Aliya Summary: The next three generations are chronicled in this
Aliya -- concluding with Noach, the tenth generation from Adam. At this
point in time, the wickedness and immorality of the people on earth
reached such proportions that G‑d regretted creating man. G‑d gave the
world 120 years to clean up their act or be destroyed. Noach, on the
other hand, was an exception. He was righteous and found favor in G‑d's
eyes.
The Midrash Rabah records the following important
story/lesson: A gentile asked Rabbi Joshua ben Korchah, “Do you not
admit that the Holy One, blessed be He, foresees the future?” Rabbi
Joshua replied to him, “Yes.” He retorted, “But it is written: and He
became grieved in His heart!” Rabbi Joshua replied, “Was a son ever born
to you?” “Yes,” the gentile replied. “And what did you do?” Rabbi
Joshua asked. He replied, “I rejoiced and made everyone rejoice.” “But
did you not know that he was destined to die?” he asked. The gentile
replied, “At the time of joy, joy; at the time of mourning, mourning.”
Rabbi Joshua said to him, “So is it with the work of the Holy One,
blessed be He; even though it was revealed before Him that they would
ultimately sin, and He would destroy them, He did not refrain from
creating them, for the sake of the righteous men who were destined to
arise from them.”
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Shishi (6th Aliya)
Aliya Summary: Lemech accidentally killed his
great-great-great-great-grandfather Cain in a hunting accident; the
blood of Abel was finally avenged. Adam and Eve gave birth to a third
son, Shet. This Aliya then chronicles the first seven generations of
mankind, from Adam to the righteous Enoch.
Lemech's wives knew of the impending flood, and that almost everyone would be killed, and therefore stopped having kids. Lemech complained about them to Adam, and Adam argued that "You perform your commandments, and He will do His", meaning that we do what we're supposed to do, and let G-d deal with the consequences. The wives countered that Adam should take his own advice, to which he stood corrected, and proceeded to have Shet, of whom Noach was a descendant, who did survive the flood, and who led the new world!
Lemech's wives knew of the impending flood, and that almost everyone would be killed, and therefore stopped having kids. Lemech complained about them to Adam, and Adam argued that "You perform your commandments, and He will do His", meaning that we do what we're supposed to do, and let G-d deal with the consequences. The wives countered that Adam should take his own advice, to which he stood corrected, and proceeded to have Shet, of whom Noach was a descendant, who did survive the flood, and who led the new world!
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Chamishi (5th Aliya)
Aliya Summary: The sixth generation descendant of Cain was Lemech,
who fathered several children -- seventh generation descendants of Cain.
This Aliya contains the story of Lemech, the great-great-great-grandson of Kayin and his accidental killer, Lemech's two wives Ada and Tzila. The Torah mentions more descendants of Kayin and their roles as the "firsts" in various fields of human activity. This portion also contains Lemech's lament for having killed Kayin.
This Aliya contains the story of Lemech, the great-great-great-grandson of Kayin and his accidental killer, Lemech's two wives Ada and Tzila. The Torah mentions more descendants of Kayin and their roles as the "firsts" in various fields of human activity. This portion also contains Lemech's lament for having killed Kayin.
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Revii (4th Aliya)
Aliya Summary: Adam and Eve were then expelled from the idyllic
Garden of Eden. Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. When Abel's
offering to G‑d was accepted, while Cain's was rejected, Cain murdered
his brother in a jealous rage. G‑d punished Cain, designating him to be a
lifelong wanderer, but postponing his ultimate punishment for seven
generations.
It may be no coincidence that as soon as Adam lost his innocence by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, he had children, who are born with that same initial innocence. As children are raised, their parents try to shelter their innocence by protecting them from the harsh realities of life and the world around them. In a way, we all try to get back to the bliss of the Garden. In a world filled with information on demand, we often forget that in reality we should always have a filter in place - not everything is meant for us to see and understand. We must know our place, our role, our limitations.
It may be no coincidence that as soon as Adam lost his innocence by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, he had children, who are born with that same initial innocence. As children are raised, their parents try to shelter their innocence by protecting them from the harsh realities of life and the world around them. In a way, we all try to get back to the bliss of the Garden. In a world filled with information on demand, we often forget that in reality we should always have a filter in place - not everything is meant for us to see and understand. We must know our place, our role, our limitations.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)
Aliya Summary: G‑d caused Adam to fall into a deep slumber and formed
a woman, Eve, from one of his sides. Adam was delighted with his new
mate. The serpent, at the time the wisest of all animals, sweet-talked
Eve into eating from the fruit of the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Eve
shared the fruit with Adam, and imbued with a new sense of knowledge and
awareness, they were ashamed of their nakedness and clothed themselves.
The fallout was quick to come: G‑d cursed the serpent, Eve, and Adam
too, with various maledictions.
Why did G-d have to make Adam fall asleep to give him Eve? The Gemara explains that had Adam seen where Eve came from, she would have been repulsive to him. The question is what would have been so repulsive. Is it because he is no longer whole, and requires a partner to be complete? Is it because he understood that the process of courtship would be difficult for some, impossible for others? Was it because the process would create so much heartbreak in the world? All because he wanted an external partner? Interesting points to ponder.
Why did G-d have to make Adam fall asleep to give him Eve? The Gemara explains that had Adam seen where Eve came from, she would have been repulsive to him. The question is what would have been so repulsive. Is it because he is no longer whole, and requires a partner to be complete? Is it because he understood that the process of courtship would be difficult for some, impossible for others? Was it because the process would create so much heartbreak in the world? All because he wanted an external partner? Interesting points to ponder.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Sheni (2nd Aliya)
Aliya Summary: This section discusses the events of the sixth day of
creation in greater detail. After Adam was formed from the earth, G‑d
placed him in a garden just east of Eden. G‑d permitted Adam to eat from
any tree in the garden, with the exception of the Tree of Knowledge.
Adam named all the animals and birds, and G‑d decided that Adam needed a
mate.
In the first account of Creation, Man was the final act of Creation, but not so much the purpose and focus of creation. In this second account, Man seems to be the focus of creation. We have to see things both ways. The accounts of Creation are very cryptic. Why have them at all? Perhaps it is to challenge each of us to understand some tiny point in this whole grand portion of the Torah that can make our existence more meaningful.
In the first account of Creation, Man was the final act of Creation, but not so much the purpose and focus of creation. In this second account, Man seems to be the focus of creation. We have to see things both ways. The accounts of Creation are very cryptic. Why have them at all? Perhaps it is to challenge each of us to understand some tiny point in this whole grand portion of the Torah that can make our existence more meaningful.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Daily Aliya for Bereishit, Rishon (1st Aliya)
General Overview: In the Torah's opening reading, Bereishit, G‑d
creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh. Adam and Eve eat
from the Tree of Knowledge and are expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Cain slays Abel and is punished accordingly. Enumeration of the ten
generations between Adam and Noach, the birth of Noach, and the
degeneration of mankind.
Aliya Summary: This Aliya recounts the story of creation in six days. On the first day G‑d made darkness and light. On the second day He formed the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He set the boundaries of land and sea and called forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixed the position of the sun, moon and stars. Fish, birds and reptiles were created on the fifth day; land-animals, and then the human being, Adam, on the sixth. G‑d ceased work on the seventh day, and sanctified it as a day of rest.
Aliya Summary: This Aliya recounts the story of creation in six days. On the first day G‑d made darkness and light. On the second day He formed the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He set the boundaries of land and sea and called forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixed the position of the sun, moon and stars. Fish, birds and reptiles were created on the fifth day; land-animals, and then the human being, Adam, on the sixth. G‑d ceased work on the seventh day, and sanctified it as a day of rest.
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