Fruit of Knowledge....
Genesis 3:6-7
Torah Study led by R. Janet Marder 6.14.08
Forbidden Fruit?
We really don’t know what the fruit was. Why did they get an idea it was an apple? The Latin translation – evil and apple are the same word and thus the translation turned it into an apple which was not accurate.
Some say it was a fig because of the next reference to the fig leaves.
Here is an interesting link I found with more details on this question
But it is probably good that we are not SURE what fruit it is because it would cast a disparaging reputation on that particular fruit!
Why did Eve take the fruit?
Desire for wisdom and knowledge.
Misled by the serpent.
Taking a risk is a human trait.
Book Reference:
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard
NPR on the River of Doubt
Genesis teaches about the human condition – our yearning for knowledge and that there are consequences to our actions.
Humans need boundaries and divine instruction on morality issues as well.
Increase in Knowledge = Increase in Pain
Ecclesiastes 1:18
Interesting site where they show all translations
“Pain is part of the process of learning, analogous to the forceful ... and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow" looms in the background” (Ecclesiastes Interpretation by William Brown)
As we grow there is emotional pain that is associated with learning – example of learning about the Holocaust.
Evolution requires the learning and the pain.
Wisdom is another distinguishing factor. We need wisdom to allow us to exercise freedom of choice.
Book Reference:
Flowers for Algernon By Daniel Keyes
Parallel of being expelled from the garden to leaving the womb in birth
The journey from innocence to knowledge is inevitable.
Book Reference:
The Bedside Torah: Wisdom, Visions, and Dreams By Bradley Shavit Artson, Miriyam Glazer
- read excerpt – The Equal Rights Amendment in Eden – page 5
Eve gets a bad rap...?
Wait. Adam was there next to her the whole time. He heard the snake. Why didn’t he say something?
God gave him the commandment not to eat the fruit and he may have misrepresented that in his translation. She got the wrong idea that she could not ‘touch’ the tree. Then the snake proved that wrong and so she didn't know what was exactly forbidden. All a case of mistaken interpretation.
It is a human metaphor - mistakes are needed to understand why there are boundaries.
More gleanings from class:
Talmud says: All is foreseen but free will is given.
Once their ‘eyes were opened’ Adam and Eve became emotionally separated.
Torah taken collectively is the dream of the Jewish people.
Book Reference:
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence By Carl Sagan
Samson Raphael Hirsch argues against the concept of “original sin”
Experiential knowledge. Their eyes were opened and they realized shame. The consequences of their actions were understood and thus another differentiation between humans and other animals.
NEXT TIME – Nakedness and Clothing
Blog Reference:
Do Fish Wear Lipstick? - What makes humans different?
“I'm thinking of things like blushing through embarrassment, laughing, etc. As far as I'm aware, human beings are the only species that domesticated animals to suit their own purposes, or that plant seeds to raise crops. Or that wear clothes. Or that commit suicide. Those are the sort of things I'm looking for.”
We helped with this list a bit in class .... Adding music and art and washing with soap
More to follow!
Torah Study led by R. Janet Marder 6.14.08
Forbidden Fruit?
We really don’t know what the fruit was. Why did they get an idea it was an apple? The Latin translation – evil and apple are the same word and thus the translation turned it into an apple which was not accurate.
Some say it was a fig because of the next reference to the fig leaves.
Here is an interesting link I found with more details on this question
But it is probably good that we are not SURE what fruit it is because it would cast a disparaging reputation on that particular fruit!
Why did Eve take the fruit?
Desire for wisdom and knowledge.
Misled by the serpent.
Taking a risk is a human trait.
Book Reference:
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard
NPR on the River of Doubt
Genesis teaches about the human condition – our yearning for knowledge and that there are consequences to our actions.
Humans need boundaries and divine instruction on morality issues as well.
Increase in Knowledge = Increase in Pain
Ecclesiastes 1:18
Interesting site where they show all translations
“Pain is part of the process of learning, analogous to the forceful ... and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow" looms in the background” (Ecclesiastes Interpretation by William Brown)
As we grow there is emotional pain that is associated with learning – example of learning about the Holocaust.
Evolution requires the learning and the pain.
Wisdom is another distinguishing factor. We need wisdom to allow us to exercise freedom of choice.
Book Reference:
Flowers for Algernon By Daniel Keyes
Parallel of being expelled from the garden to leaving the womb in birth
The journey from innocence to knowledge is inevitable.
Book Reference:
The Bedside Torah: Wisdom, Visions, and Dreams By Bradley Shavit Artson, Miriyam Glazer
- read excerpt – The Equal Rights Amendment in Eden – page 5
Eve gets a bad rap...?
Wait. Adam was there next to her the whole time. He heard the snake. Why didn’t he say something?
God gave him the commandment not to eat the fruit and he may have misrepresented that in his translation. She got the wrong idea that she could not ‘touch’ the tree. Then the snake proved that wrong and so she didn't know what was exactly forbidden. All a case of mistaken interpretation.
It is a human metaphor - mistakes are needed to understand why there are boundaries.
More gleanings from class:
Talmud says: All is foreseen but free will is given.
Once their ‘eyes were opened’ Adam and Eve became emotionally separated.
Torah taken collectively is the dream of the Jewish people.
Book Reference:
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence By Carl Sagan
Samson Raphael Hirsch argues against the concept of “original sin”
Experiential knowledge. Their eyes were opened and they realized shame. The consequences of their actions were understood and thus another differentiation between humans and other animals.
NEXT TIME – Nakedness and Clothing
Blog Reference:
Do Fish Wear Lipstick? - What makes humans different?
“I'm thinking of things like blushing through embarrassment, laughing, etc. As far as I'm aware, human beings are the only species that domesticated animals to suit their own purposes, or that plant seeds to raise crops. Or that wear clothes. Or that commit suicide. Those are the sort of things I'm looking for.”
We helped with this list a bit in class .... Adding music and art and washing with soap
More to follow!
posted by Chavarah @ 7:30 AM
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