Genesis

בייה

We continue our conversation about Adam and Eve’s creation on the sixth day as we try to put their life in perspective to our lives now. We want to identify and explore what it was like living in the age of innocence compared to living in the age of disobedience to God’s Commandments. There will be some surprising, disturbing, and shocking revelations. Our goal is to better understand what happened then and how that impacts us now.

Occasionally I will make a comment that departs from our subject. Here is our first NOTE: The Book of Genesis is not written as a chronology. For the most part, Genesis is a book of history. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 163. We return –

Adam and Eve were created in an age of innocence. They were pure. Originally good and evil did not exist for them as it does for us living in 5783 F.C. Neither nakedness nor sexual relations were concealed. (Genesis 2.25) says, ‘And they were both עֲרוּמִּים [naked plural], Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.‘ Naked is spelled עָרוּם Ah room when it is singular. Genesis 3.1) says, ‘The serpent was more עָרוּם Ah room subtle.‘ In the age of disobedience to God’s Commandments, nakedness is now tied to the evil serpent.

(Talmud Naishim Yevamot 63a) Says, ‘R Eleazar asked, What is meant by the Scriptural text, וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָדָם זֹאת הַפַּעַם And he, the Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh?‘ (Genesis 2.23) teaches that Adam had intercourse with every beast and animal but found no satisfaction until he cohabited with Eve.’ After the male, Adam, and the female Adam had sex with the animals, each individually became aware of a need for a corresponding helpmate. Those experiences and discoveries were in the age of innocence that began and ended on the sixth day.

If we think about it, our present age has commercialized, sensationalized, and dramatized Adam and Eve. Too much energy is placed on our first parents being perfect and then eating the supposed apple that allegedly resulted in humankind being born into sin. Holy Scripture does not identify the fruit. Yes, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s Commandments. They ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thus ending the age of innocence.

In (Genesis 2) we studied Adam and Chavah’s Creation Narrative according to Jewish tradition. They lived in an age where hours were much longer than our present age. Our Teacher, Moses, puts time in perspective. (Psalms 90.4) says, ‘For a thousand years in Your sight are but like yesterday when it is past.‘

(Zohar Chelek Gimmel amud 19a) Says, ‘[God made] him without flaw, as it is written, “God Made man upright” יָשָׁר Yashar, literally means straight.‘ In (Ecclesiastes 7.29) Zohar says, ‘The word ‘man’ [Adam] means male and female, the female being included in the male, and hence it says “upright.” At JewishPath.org, I discuss the androgyny of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 5.2), ‘[God] Created male and female and Blessed them, and called their name Man, in the day they were created.‘ Adam and Eve were attached to each other. On one side was the male Adam, and on the other side was the female Adam. The body of the Adam was fashioned from the earth, but Eve’s body was fashioned from a warm, sensitive, caring, and protective man. Men can be a bit cold, gruff, and achy, whereas women are soft, gentle, delicate, caring, loving, and so forth. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p109 – I entitled (Genesis 1) Sexual Confusion. Each of us comes from the age of Sexual Confusion of one type or another. Each generation faces a sexual identity crisis.

How did Adam and Eve treat each other? (Genesis 3.20) says, ‘And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.‘ However, that is NOT exactly what is written in Ha Torah. And he [the male Adam] called his wife’s name חַוָּה Chah Vaw. So how did we end up with איב Eve? Is there a subliminal message here? Perhaps! חַוָּה Chah Vaw is not translated איב Eve. Rashi says חַוָּה Chah Vaw linguistically relates to חַיַה Chah Yah – ‘living.’ Rabbi Yisrael Isser Zvi Herzog, The Sapirstein Edition Rashi Bereisheit / Genesis (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. First Edition 10th impression 2007), p39. (Midrash Rabbah Bereisheit 20.11 note 1) Says that חַוָּה Chah Vaw comes from חַוַיא Chah Vah, meaning serpent – as in the serpent stated an opinion, i.e., injected an idea. The serpent infected Eve. My intention is to study this in (Genesis 4). Are we noticing a nasty side of Adam beginning to surface? Is Ha Torah informing us that Adam called his wife offensive names? Perhaps! There are varying opinions. Adam needed to relieve his anger and hurt. Like Adam, we need a pressure release valve. We explode, exhibit anger, and later beat ourselves up for stumbling in a weak minute. The phrase A chain is only as strong as its weakest link means we should try to strengthen our weak areas. Thomas Reid’s Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man 1786, Wiktionary.org

Let’s consider this anger from another viewpoint. Each of us has, at one time or another, experienced the warmth of a kind act. We know how good kindness feels. Let’s think about when someone did something for us that made us feel so good. Loving-kindness has many shapes and forms that make others feel so incredibly good. Each of us possesses the power to be kind. Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 16.24) says, ‘Pleasant words אִמְרֵי־נֹעַם are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.’ A good relationship needs a great deal of respect between the wife and the husband. Husbands and wives must exercise care to speak pleasant words. Our words should bring sweetness to the soul and be rich with Torah. Our words should uplift, restore and bring health. אִמְרֵי־נֹעַם Ee Mih Ray – Noh Ahm – ‘Pleasant Words’ that represent virtue. Virtue is behavior that shows high moral standards of goodness and decency. Being virtuous requires us to have self-respect and respect for others. Solomon points to the foundation behind ‘pleasant words.’ Solomon is saying the one who is intelligent controls their words.

We know that Chavah gave Adam a death sentence. That isn’t easy to forgive and forget. Undoubtedly Adam tried. Trying counts even when we fail. (Genesis 3.12) says, ‘And the man said, [To God the Eternal Judge on Erev Rosh HaShanna] The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.‘ Was Adam content? Was Adam exuberant? Adam, Eve, Kayin, and his twin sister were expelled from The Garden of Eden. How did Adam act after being banished from Gan Eden? He ceased all marital relations with Eve for 130 years. Later Cain murders Abel. There was a lot of anguish and hurt from these incidents. During that time, Cain brought much evil into the world. Adam and Eve counteracted that evil by populating the world with righteous children and moral teachings from Ha Torah.

Lamech summoned his wives for their marital duties after he accidentally killed Cain, the son of Adam and Eve. They saw no point in having children. They felt like their children would be doomed. They brought their grievance to Adam and presented the case to him. Lemech’s wives argued, Our master, our husband killed our great-grandfather Cain and our son Tuval Kayin. Why should we continue to bear additional children who are doomed to annihilation?’

Lamech said, ‘My master, it all happened by accident and was not done intentionally.’

Adam decided, ‘Listen to your husband, Ada, and Tzilla! The world was established for the purpose of procreation!’

Lemech’s wives retorted, ‘Cure your sickness first, doctor, before giving us instructions. You have been separate from Eve for a hundred and thirty years, and you tell us what to do.‘

Adam was devastated. The only human that he could relate to was the source of his deep hurt. Can we imagine how alone, isolated, demoralized, shattered, and traumatized Adam was? That’s pretty down and low. How do we deal with issues? Do we turn our backs to the world, cover our faces with our hands, cry, weep, and shut ourselves in with our favorite Scriptures? Do we agonize before The Master of the universe letting it all out? When we finish, do we feel refreshed, joyful, and uplifted? (Psalms 30.6) says, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.‘ We can cry out to The Lord as often as necessary. It helps! Ha Torah and prayer are The greatest resources we have. Living in agreement with Ha Torah’s teachings is a positive step forward. Working together is another because it reduces stress and anxiety. Cooperating and being good to each other helps to heal our world. Being perfect and doing everything right is not a requirement. Commit to trying. Can we try walking together? Let’s agree to try. We will be blessed for our efforts.

May we each enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and the Blessing of studying and Observing the Torah. Trust in The Lord.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Author