THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well and have had a Good Yom Tov!

Mazal Tov to Avi on his upcoming birthday this Shabbos. Wishing you a year of much success Avi, for you and your Family in both gashmius and ruchnius, and with much joy and peace BEH!

A number of points came up in this weeks Sedra Bereishis, regarding the HUMAN PREDICAMENT, which I would like to share:

· None of the trees of the field were yet on the land and nor had any plants sprouted, because Hahem had not yet brought rain, since there was no man to work the ground (2:5). Rashi tells us that when man was created, he realised that rain was necessary, and prayed for it to fall. It then fell and the trees and plants sprouted

· The Eternal , the All Powerful then formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the soul of life (2:7) – This *double process* is unique to man and our Sages explain that the word ‘formed’ in this verse,(vayitzer) has 2 yuds which refer to this double process. The Baal Haturim says that the 2 yuds refer to the 2 inclinations found in man (and woman) ie the yetzer hara (evil inclination) and the yetzer tov (G-dly inclination), which are constantly battling each other. Man has free choice. Rashi says that the 2 yuds indicate the formation of man for this world and for the resurrection. Animals do not have a share in the World to Come (and Divine Judgement), and there is no double yud in reference to their formation.

· Then Hashem created for Adam a helpmate “It is not good that man is alone. I will create for him a helpmate, *ezer kenegdo.”* (2:18) It is interesting that kenegdo in Hebrew could mean complementing him, or opposite to him. Rabbi Gordon mentioned an interesting interpretation of this seeming contradiction as follows.- If a wife just says yes to everything a husband requests, this does not help him develop. If he is doing wrong in life, or not thriving in every way, *she needs to oppose him, to help him develop!*

· Adam and Chava were living a life of bliss in Gan Eden, but are then conned into eating from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil by the serpent, and are expelled from Gan Eden. This is because, by now, having this knowledge and free choice, it could mean that if they eat from the Tree of Life, which was also in Gan Eden, they could attain eternal life. And this could mean that there is the possibility that tyrants could live forever (3:22 – 24). Which no one would want. And as a consequence, the snake was cursed to crawl on it’s belly and face animosity between it and man. The woman was given a future of anguish with pregnancy and birth, and domination of husband over her. Man had to now face a cursed ground resulting in hard work and sweat to produce bread, until returning to the ground from which he was taken.

The picture may look dismal, but our Sages tell us that this situation is a challenge for us and a *great opportunity, nevertheless*, to have a good quality life - To trust in Hashem, studying Torah and following it’s guidances, engaging in Prayer, and doing acts of goodness and kindness.

As seen in today's Hayom Yom (27th Tishrei) “………….For a person who lives according to the Torah and the directives of our Sages lives a happy life both materially and spiritually.”

Gut Shabbos to all!