Humans will Disobey
What it is to be human:
Humans Have Free Will
Humans Will Disobey
Disobedience Will Have Consequences
From analysis of individual words to micro and macro analysis of the meanings, this week’s Torah Study was full of details.
The word AYEKA: Where are you?
The same letters make the word Eicha which refers to an expression of woe and is the first word in the book of Lamemtations and sometimes translated as ‘wherefore’ in the sense of mourning or a feeling of loss.
I found that this parallel is often mentioned on Tisha b’Av in the dvar Torah here are two links I found:
Eicha - Ayeka
“Eicha yashava badad…?” “Eicha” speaks about the national trauma that befell the people when they cut themselves off from Hashem and found themselves alone amongst the nation. . .
“Ayeka” is our own individual “wake up call” to rebuild ourselves from the inside and give ourselves Spiritual workouts . . .
Adam’s answer:
“I heard your voice” This is also an idiom in Hebrew – In Biblical Hebrew it is more to Obey and in Modern Hebrew it is more to listen.
The same word is used when God speaks to Abraham and tells him to listen to what Sarah says when she urges him to expel Hagar: Shema b'kolah
(side note here is an interesting link to idioms in the Bible but it didn’t include this one)
There is irony in that Adam heard the sound and yet was afraid because he was naked. Even though it just said that they covered themselves with fig leaves.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Scholar’s Interpretations:
14th Century Portuguese philosopher
But it all centers around how Adam is being deceptive in his answer. His answer implies modesty rather than guilt.
- - -
Don’t Pray Naked (Unless you are in a Mikvah)
At face value this is the source that says you should not be in the presence of God naked
Don’t pray without clothes at least below the waist – in some Hasidic communities they wear a cloth belt, called a gartel, during prayer to divide the body. - found on internet that some take it as a symbol of "girding one's loins with strength"--a potent biblical image.
Another internet site:
Equates the gartel with a weightlifter’s belt! “wearing the right belt allows better posture and balance to lift a tremendous load of weight. The Jewish people wear another type of belt. They wear a belt that harnesses a spiritual strength and serves as a catalyst to utilize basic human drives and desires towards positive and productive accomplishments.”
This is further verified in Exodus 20:23 where is says not to ascend steps to the tabernacle and show nakedness. And again in Exodus 28 where priests were told to wear britches! (the first underwear)
This also, in part, is the source for the tradition that denigrates the body in thought which we are trying to overcome in modern culture.
- - -
Back to Adam’s recoil from responsibility
There is a chain of evasion – blame it on modesty, blame it on Eve, blame it on the snake... And worst of all blame it on God..
Rashi : Pay attention to goodness.
When Adam blames Eve he says: on the woman who You gave me.
Therefore it is blame on God too. Adam denied the goodness of God here – he is hiding from responsibility.
Nachmonidies: “You gave woman to me and therefore Adam is justified in following what she said to do.”
- - -
Etymology:
Spelling of ‘You gave’ (nun – tav – tav – hay) includes the name of God ne tah tah – unusual spelling in the feminine
“her who You gave”
- - -
God as the therapist – Ken suggested that Adam look at the view: “what would it take to make this right?”
- - -
This is the beginning of the process of teshuvah.
- - -
Comparison of Adam’s excuses to Abraham’s answer to the similar question: “Henane”
This would make a great dvar Torah! - found a few on line but not many!
Hasidic Teaching of misogyny from this passage:
Why was it Eve’s fault?
She beat Adam with a stick to make him eat.
This came from yet more etymology of min HaEtz – as the Etz part could be read as a ‘stick’.
Another interpretation I saw on the internet shows it as ‘Hamin HaEtz hazeh’ and shows that HAMIN was present and interjecting evil. (a bit far reaching but has been used in other places too)
Harve C notes that we should interpret the whole segment as a ‘change in human status’.
Jews do not believe in original sin but this is where Christianity finds that concept and thus needed Jesus to help take away that sin of Adam.
“Who told you that you were naked?” - good question – Was it the serpent? The woman? Who?
Etymology: Hebrew word (vav aleph haf lamed) - I WILL EAT – which acknowledges that he will continue to do this.
God turns to Eve: What have you done?
Was she even there when the commandment was given? Is it a rhetorical question?
Maybe she was there because she was made from Adam and therefore was part of him when he was commanded.
But she blames the serpent....
God punishes the serpent first: Genesis 3:14-15 – First punishment in accordance with the crime to the serpent who will crawl on his belly and eat dust.
It is important to know that it is important not to influence others to do wrong.
It is a punishment in accordance with the crime.
AND there is a natural fear of snakes by humans. This has been verified by scientific studies:
Book Reference: Mean Genes: From Sex to Money to Food: Taming Our Primal Instincts
by Terry Burnham & Jay Phelan
We overcome fear of snakes by knowledge not instinct....
Think about it... Definitely relevant to the passage!
Humans Have Free Will
Humans Will Disobey
Disobedience Will Have Consequences
From analysis of individual words to micro and macro analysis of the meanings, this week’s Torah Study was full of details.
The word AYEKA: Where are you?
The same letters make the word Eicha which refers to an expression of woe and is the first word in the book of Lamemtations and sometimes translated as ‘wherefore’ in the sense of mourning or a feeling of loss.
I found that this parallel is often mentioned on Tisha b’Av in the dvar Torah here are two links I found:
Eicha - Ayeka
“Eicha yashava badad…?” “Eicha” speaks about the national trauma that befell the people when they cut themselves off from Hashem and found themselves alone amongst the nation. . .
“Ayeka” is our own individual “wake up call” to rebuild ourselves from the inside and give ourselves Spiritual workouts . . .
Adam’s answer:
“I heard your voice” This is also an idiom in Hebrew – In Biblical Hebrew it is more to Obey and in Modern Hebrew it is more to listen.
The same word is used when God speaks to Abraham and tells him to listen to what Sarah says when she urges him to expel Hagar: Shema b'kolah
(side note here is an interesting link to idioms in the Bible but it didn’t include this one)
There is irony in that Adam heard the sound and yet was afraid because he was naked. Even though it just said that they covered themselves with fig leaves.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
Scholar’s Interpretations:
14th Century Portuguese philosopher
But it all centers around how Adam is being deceptive in his answer. His answer implies modesty rather than guilt.
- - -
Don’t Pray Naked (Unless you are in a Mikvah)
At face value this is the source that says you should not be in the presence of God naked
Don’t pray without clothes at least below the waist – in some Hasidic communities they wear a cloth belt, called a gartel, during prayer to divide the body. - found on internet that some take it as a symbol of "girding one's loins with strength"--a potent biblical image.
Another internet site:
Equates the gartel with a weightlifter’s belt! “wearing the right belt allows better posture and balance to lift a tremendous load of weight. The Jewish people wear another type of belt. They wear a belt that harnesses a spiritual strength and serves as a catalyst to utilize basic human drives and desires towards positive and productive accomplishments.”
This is further verified in Exodus 20:23 where is says not to ascend steps to the tabernacle and show nakedness. And again in Exodus 28 where priests were told to wear britches! (the first underwear)
This also, in part, is the source for the tradition that denigrates the body in thought which we are trying to overcome in modern culture.
- - -
Back to Adam’s recoil from responsibility
There is a chain of evasion – blame it on modesty, blame it on Eve, blame it on the snake... And worst of all blame it on God..
Rashi : Pay attention to goodness.
When Adam blames Eve he says: on the woman who You gave me.
Therefore it is blame on God too. Adam denied the goodness of God here – he is hiding from responsibility.
Nachmonidies: “You gave woman to me and therefore Adam is justified in following what she said to do.”
- - -
Etymology:
Spelling of ‘You gave’ (nun – tav – tav – hay) includes the name of God ne tah tah – unusual spelling in the feminine
“her who You gave”
- - -
God as the therapist – Ken suggested that Adam look at the view: “what would it take to make this right?”
- - -
This is the beginning of the process of teshuvah.
- - -
Comparison of Adam’s excuses to Abraham’s answer to the similar question: “Henane”
This would make a great dvar Torah! - found a few on line but not many!
Hasidic Teaching of misogyny from this passage:
Why was it Eve’s fault?
She beat Adam with a stick to make him eat.
This came from yet more etymology of min HaEtz – as the Etz part could be read as a ‘stick’.
Another interpretation I saw on the internet shows it as ‘Hamin HaEtz hazeh’ and shows that HAMIN was present and interjecting evil. (a bit far reaching but has been used in other places too)
Harve C notes that we should interpret the whole segment as a ‘change in human status’.
Jews do not believe in original sin but this is where Christianity finds that concept and thus needed Jesus to help take away that sin of Adam.
“Who told you that you were naked?” - good question – Was it the serpent? The woman? Who?
Etymology: Hebrew word (vav aleph haf lamed) - I WILL EAT – which acknowledges that he will continue to do this.
God turns to Eve: What have you done?
Was she even there when the commandment was given? Is it a rhetorical question?
Maybe she was there because she was made from Adam and therefore was part of him when he was commanded.
But she blames the serpent....
God punishes the serpent first: Genesis 3:14-15 – First punishment in accordance with the crime to the serpent who will crawl on his belly and eat dust.
It is important to know that it is important not to influence others to do wrong.
It is a punishment in accordance with the crime.
AND there is a natural fear of snakes by humans. This has been verified by scientific studies:
Book Reference: Mean Genes: From Sex to Money to Food: Taming Our Primal Instincts
by Terry Burnham & Jay Phelan
We overcome fear of snakes by knowledge not instinct....
Think about it... Definitely relevant to the passage!
posted by Chavarah @ 7:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home