Adam 1 and Adam 2 - duality explained
The following notes from Torah Study by Howard Selznick - wish I had been there - of course his research is very complete in how he does his notes... Seems like a fascinating session:
24 May 2008
• Two creation stories illustrate the duality of human nature.
• An episode of Star Trek (Original Series) dealt with this duality. In episode No. 5 “The Enemy Within” , there is a transporter malfunction as Captain Kirk beams up from a planet. Two Kirks materialize, one “good” – passive and contemplative -- and one “evil” – aggressive and violent. Before Spock and McCoy figure out what happened, the evil Kirk runs amok on his ship, committing violent acts, including the attempted assault of Yeoman Janice Rand. The other Kirk seems good and honorable, but as time passes, he weakens and loses his ability to make decisions. Meanwhile, the "evil" half is dying. Neither Kirk can survive to command the Enterprise without his other half. Scotty eventually repairs the transporter and Spock convinces both Kirks to beam down the planet. One Kirk returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise whole and alive.
The story line is a sci-fi version of Jekyll and Hyde … It questions what the most important characteristics of a leader should be. Aggression is necessary, though courage is derived from the sensible side of Kirk.
As the story unfolds, we begin to see that both sides of Kirk need each other just as much as each other not just to function properly and morally but to function as a ship’s captain. Without his rough side ..., Kirk lacks any real sense of command and ability to keep order. However as Doctor McCoy states, without the good side of Kirk, he wouldn’t have his intelligence and moral judgment to rely on in difficult situations. Furthermore McCoy makes an interesting move in claiming that human courage may come from those things as when both confronted each other, the evil Kirk was scared but good Kirk wasn’t.
• Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch described Eden in terms of a memory of abundance and wholeness. The Song of Songs “locates” and recreates Eden in human love.
• Rabbi Elie Monk asks why did God create man? Rabbi Marder mentioned Psalm 89; however, a number of Psalms deal with Creation as a manifestation of God’s power and wisdom: 104, 24:1-2, 135:6-7, 74:12-17, and 89:10-13.
• Gen 2:21, “deep sleep” – unpredicted things happen when least expected. Creativity comes from sleep when thoughts bubble up from the unconscious. “Something mysterious and awe-inspiring is about to take place.”
• Gen 2:24, עַל-כֵּן , “hence” in JPS translation implies commentary. Other translations:
• Gen 2:22, צֵלָע , “side” or “rib”
◊ The same word also refers to the side of the Mishkan or side of a structure necessary for stability (shear wall?). There is the sense of something missing in “man”. Uniting man with another person help deal with the duality.
◊ God-Man-Woman: a love triangle? Maybe, but we serve God by serving other people. Halakhically, women are exempt from certain mitzvot, so some of the tension of the triangle is lessened.
◊ Sodium and chloride ions are chemically active and are drawn to each other as crystalline salt, just as humans need salt to survive.
• Gen 2:23 – the first wedding? One of the seven blessings during the Jewish marriage ceremony is based on this verse.
24 May 2008
• Two creation stories illustrate the duality of human nature.
- Rabbi Jack H. Bloom takes exception to translation of צלם as “image”; instead he prefers “model”, primarily because “image” connotes a replica of a corporeal object, i.e., an idol, which is antithetical to Jewish tradition. See his Jewish Relational Care A-Z. The Hayworth Press, 2006. Page 3. Subsequently, he realized that even “model” was not a proper translation because it, too, conveyed the idea of God’s corporeality. Consequently, the phrase אֱלׂהִים בְּצֶלֶם should not be translated but used as if it were English. See “Pursuing Tzelem Elohim. How I Ended up Where I Started. A Translator/Traitor’s Perilous Voyage.” From www.jackhbloom.com [received via email 1 May 08]
- Southgate, Troy. “Victor Dortheimer: The Swindling Survivor” at http://www.rosenoire.org/articles/swindling.php, accessed 28 May 2008. Original source appears to be 'A Schindler Survivor: The Story Behind the Documentary' by Ron Fisher, Carlton UK Television, 1997, p. 23
Cohen, Norman J. Self, Struggle & Change. Family Conflict Stories in Genesis and Their Healing Insighes for our Lives. Jewish Lights Publishing. 1995. Pages 21-23.
• An episode of Star Trek (Original Series) dealt with this duality. In episode No. 5 “The Enemy Within” , there is a transporter malfunction as Captain Kirk beams up from a planet. Two Kirks materialize, one “good” – passive and contemplative -- and one “evil” – aggressive and violent. Before Spock and McCoy figure out what happened, the evil Kirk runs amok on his ship, committing violent acts, including the attempted assault of Yeoman Janice Rand. The other Kirk seems good and honorable, but as time passes, he weakens and loses his ability to make decisions. Meanwhile, the "evil" half is dying. Neither Kirk can survive to command the Enterprise without his other half. Scotty eventually repairs the transporter and Spock convinces both Kirks to beam down the planet. One Kirk returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise whole and alive.
The story line is a sci-fi version of Jekyll and Hyde … It questions what the most important characteristics of a leader should be. Aggression is necessary, though courage is derived from the sensible side of Kirk.
As the story unfolds, we begin to see that both sides of Kirk need each other just as much as each other not just to function properly and morally but to function as a ship’s captain. Without his rough side ..., Kirk lacks any real sense of command and ability to keep order. However as Doctor McCoy states, without the good side of Kirk, he wouldn’t have his intelligence and moral judgment to rely on in difficult situations. Furthermore McCoy makes an interesting move in claiming that human courage may come from those things as when both confronted each other, the evil Kirk was scared but good Kirk wasn’t.
- “TheLonely Man of Faith”. Tradition. A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought. 7 (2), Summer 1965. Pages 5-67. Also at http://www.traditiononline.org/news/converted/Volume%207/No.%202/The%20Lonely%20Man.pdf
- First aired 6 October 1966 (Stardate 1672.1)
- http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/episodes/TOS/detail/68670.html; http://www.tv.com/star-trek/the-enemy-within/episode/24890/reviews.html?review_id=330008&flag=
- http://www.tv.com/star-trek/the-enemy-within/episode/24890/reviews.html?review_id=417501&flag=
- http://www.tv.com/star-trek/the-enemy-within/episode/24890/reviews.html?review_id=330008&flag=
• Ariel Bloch and Chana Bloch described Eden in terms of a memory of abundance and wholeness. The Song of Songs “locates” and recreates Eden in human love.
• Rabbi Elie Monk asks why did God create man? Rabbi Marder mentioned Psalm 89; however, a number of Psalms deal with Creation as a manifestation of God’s power and wisdom: 104, 24:1-2, 135:6-7, 74:12-17, and 89:10-13.
• Gen 2:21, “deep sleep” – unpredicted things happen when least expected. Creativity comes from sleep when thoughts bubble up from the unconscious. “Something mysterious and awe-inspiring is about to take place.”
• Gen 2:24, עַל-כֵּן , “hence” in JPS translation implies commentary. Other translations:
• Gen 2:22, צֵלָע , “side” or “rib”
◊ The same word also refers to the side of the Mishkan or side of a structure necessary for stability (shear wall?). There is the sense of something missing in “man”. Uniting man with another person help deal with the duality.
◊ God-Man-Woman: a love triangle? Maybe, but we serve God by serving other people. Halakhically, women are exempt from certain mitzvot, so some of the tension of the triangle is lessened.
◊ Sodium and chloride ions are chemically active and are drawn to each other as crystalline salt, just as humans need salt to survive.
• Gen 2:23 – the first wedding? One of the seven blessings during the Jewish marriage ceremony is based on this verse.
- Polish, Daniel F. Keeping Faith with the Psalms. Jewish Lights Publishing. 2004. Pages 20 ff.
- Hertz, page 9
- Alter, page 23
- Eskanazi, page 12; Holladay, page 307
posted by Chavarah @ 5:52 PM
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