Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 24 Tishri, 5785

Good morning! We are “starting over” today – and? We have a tall order for us.  An entire Parsha in one day! We read all of Parsha Bereshit – “In The Beginning.”

The energy right now is like a blank canvas. That can be both overwhelming and exciting. We want a step by step lego instruction manual on life – but that is not what we are given. It’s freedom. It’s choice.

When it comes to my Torah Thoughts? I am left with a similar blank canvas. This is the first year I have not known what direction to go. So I am deciding just to flow.  I am posting my thoughts from last year each day, and will likely add additional thoughts this year. I am not sure. People have asked for audio, and that is on my heart and mind as well.

I know what I desire. More engagement. I post these most of the time – and don’t get much in terms of engagement. I am not sure the best direction for this. And? I am open.

Today? The theme is all about freedom and liberation – when there isn’t a formula to follow? How do we navigate that? Is it exciting? Or is it anxiety producing?

The next theme I see is curiosity.  When we see ourselves with freedom and liberation, do we judge? Or are we curious? This is a crucial choice.

This was a summary of the takeaways:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
• The tree of life is within us. Choose life within with curiosity and not judgment
• Learn to balance the comfort of stumbling, with the challenge of pushing ourselves towards spiritual growth.

Have a great rest today!

 

Here is my commentary from last year:

Genesis 5784 commentary:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 23 Tishri, 5784

Simchat Torah!  Chag Sameach!

Today we turn back the Torah and “Begin Again.”  We start over with Genesis – Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)

Today’s reading (for the First day of the week) we read the first portion, Genesis 1:1-2:3.  It is the story of Creation.

As we “Begin Again” hopefully we approach to Torah even MORE liberated than we did last year (5783) or the year before (5782).

And what I reflect on IMMEDIATELY from my commentary last year is THIS line:

And, as we’ve learned; Hashem made the CHOICE to restrain Himself and confine Himself in our world. He chose to need us. To desire us. To want us.

As we’ve been discussing unrequited love, I think the theme this year’s Torah cycle for me is around this idea and concept of returning Hashem’s love- and our own (since His spirit is inside of us).

So. If we are made in the image of Hashem (as today’s portion points out)?  It would make sense that we ended yesterday discussing a choice:

 Is the promise land THIS moment. And then THIS moment. And THIS. And THIS.  Each moment we live – is the promise.  To live in a moment or to ignore a moment. To numb ourselves in a moment. To distract ourselves in a moment.  To live or die in these moments MAY BE the answer to Spiritual Freedom and Liberation.

 And. It may not be.

It may ALSO be that the Promise Land ALREADY Exists.  Our Consciousness can decide – will we be OUTSIDE the promised land within? Or will we enter it within? That may be the final message of the Torah.  Basically, The Torah can lead a horse to water (the Promised Land) but the Torah cannot make us drink.  We have to CHOOSE to enter. That is it.

Or maybe it’s both/and? MAYBE THE Torah wants us to AVOID Either/Or thinking.  To see it both/and.  At THIS moment. We are both IN the Promised Land, and OUTside of it. We are IN Heaven and OUT of it. Hashem is both withIN us and OUTside of us. We don’t seem to think this way. We think it’s one or the other.  Both/AND is liberation thinking. Just my opinion.

So – creation is about choice. Hashem CHOSE to restrain Himself and confine Himself in our world.

Our consciousness has a CHOICE.  As we create our moments (or co-create them with Hashem) we can choose to restrain ourselves and confine ourselves into the moment Hashem is creating with us, OR we can try to fight what Hashem is co-creating with us.  We can block. We can resist.

We really have the choice: Play in HASHEM’S Sandbox and co-create there – or – fight to be OUTSIDE Hashem’s sandbox to create something independently.

And? Spoiler alert? We can’t. We can’t be outside Hashem’s Sandbox. That’s the rub.  No matter how much we try. We cannot run away from ourselves.  We will always find us.  Because this is all within.

And thus begins our descent into slavery. Trying to run away from Hashem’s creation and what Hashem wants to co-create with us?  THAT feels like slavery.  That is the beginning of imprisonment.  Let us remember this lesson as we “Begin Again” this Torah cycle.

I am curious to YOUR thoughts!

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 24 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Second Portion: Genesis 2:4-19

What I love about today’s portion is it “digs deeper” into the creation of us as humans. Yesterday we studies the entire process of creation – from a 30,000 foot view. Today, we start with a reset of right before Hashem created us.

The idea is:  There was no vegetation in the ground yet. It was all dirt.  There were likely seeds germinating, but rains had not come yet, and there was no one to work the soil. The POTENTIAL existed in this “real” space (or reality) that Hashem was creating – but the potential had not come to fruition yet.

Genesis 2:6 talks about Hashem creating a mist to ASCEND from the earth – to soak the ground. So that Hashem would form US out of the MOIST soil.  He blew into the nostrils a living soul, and we became a living being.

Now lets pause, because I am reflecting on a few things.

Water ASCENDED from the earth.  Think about that – within the earth was POTENTIAL for rain as well.  Hashem created the earth with POTENTIAL.  Hashem created US with Potential.  Within us – there is living water – our Neshama that has the potential to ascend from within us – to do good on this earth.

And we are created from dirt. I’ve always had difficulty wrapping my head around this idea, but our Rabbi this High Holy days made it really clear for me.  Consider. When we die. What happens to our bodies?  They decompose. They return to earth.  We get buried in coffins.  I am curious as to why? Why don’t we just get buried in the dirt? Is it to slow down the body decomposing into the earth? To prevent our earthly bodies from returning to our source?

It comes back to the question – who are we? Bodies with souls inside, or souls with a body wrapped around us? Because if you think about the decomposition process of dead bodies, if we reversed the video (ala TikTok) we can begin to get a picture of how our bodies could be formed “from dirt.”  Because ALL the materials within us – are from the earth. That was mind blowing to me. We are LITERALLY made from the stuff of dirt. But our essence. Our potential? That is not of this earth.  The earth CONTAINS the potential.

And. Immediately, Hashem made us a garden to attend to. And. Guard.

Full stop.  Guard the Garden? From WHAT? Or WHO? Why was our purpose not just to TEND the garden, but to GUARD it too?  I am still reflecting on that. And I don’t have answers. I’d be curious if you did!

Then, Hashem hints at an answer. The Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.  Eat anything you want.  Just don’t eat of good and evil.

Hot take: What is good and evil?  Judgment. Hashem was giving us a hint.  Do not judge.  I often have conversations with folx about “feeling good.”  Good isn’t a feeling.  It’s a judgment of a feeling.  Knowledge of Good and Evil really is the idea of moving away from curiosity and into judgment.  This is the root of judgment.  And we are ONLY judged BECAUSE we judge. My opinion. This is where “judge not lest ye be judged” comes from. I think.

I think the message may be – guard ourselves from judgment.  This is the beginning to the path of slavery. We have the POTENTIAL within us – to avoid judgment. When we judge ourselves inwardly (I am good. I am bad. I am evil) we then begin to judge externally (that is good. That is bad. That is evil).  AND. The more we judge EXTERNALLY? The less we have to deal with how we judge ourselves INTERNALLY.

And in verse 2:18 we come to the end of today’s portion with Hashem giving us a “helpmate” opposite us.  And. Surprise – it is NOT woman.  And we will talk about the REAL story of Adam and Eve (which isn’t REALLY her name, by the way) but Genesis 2:18 basically says the ANIMALS were created to help us tend the garden and GUARD.

Because it is the soil that needs TENDING and GUARDING.  Not the judgment.

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 25 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Third Portion: Genesis 2:20- 3:21

So today’s portion is really interesting and there are two main focal points.

First, we are learning about how “Eve” was created (Spoiler – NOT her real name).

Remember yesterday, Hashem created a helpmate for us – so we wouldn’t be alone?  Here is the text Genesis 2:18-19):

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man is alone; I shall make him a helpmate opposite him.”

19 And the Lord God formed from the earth every beast of the field and every fowl of the heavens, and He brought [it] to man to see what he would call it, and whatever the man called each living thing, that was its name.

Notice.  It did not say “man” was lonely.  And the Hebrew word here for “man” (Adam) is more translated to “Humanity” in my opinion.  Because I think what I am about to share may blow some people’s minds – but there is a good chance “Adam” was a hermaphrodite – both male and female.  And we will get to that in a minute.

Hashem created “helpers” for Adam.  But Adam was looking outside for help – and didn’t consider what was within.  So today’s portion begins with Adam complaining to Hashem that there was no actual helpmate.

So did Hashem set us up?  Hashem created all these animals to help us.  But it wasn’t enough for us.  We complain.

Next we see in today’s portion the following text (From Genesis 2:21-25):

21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon man, and he slept, and He took one of his sides, and He closed the flesh in its place.

22And the Lord God built the side that He had taken from man into a woman, and He brought her to man.

23And man said, “This time, it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Ishah (woman) because this one was taken from Ish (man).”

24Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

25Now they were both naked, the man and his wife, but they were not ashamed.

So. Sit with this passage.  Reread it.  And before we move forward? Reflect. What do you notice? Be curious!

I’ll wait.

Ok. Here is what I notice:

• “took one of his sides” –
  • We often think of “ribs.” Because…well…Christianity.
  • However, if Adam was a hermaphrodite and had masculine and feminine spiritual, emotional, and physical components all contained within (remember Adam was made in the image of Hashem – “let US make man in OUR image.”), “sides” could mean Hashem LITERALLY took the physical side of Adam that was female and separated it out from the one physical body. This was a PHYSICAL separation – not an emotional or spiritual one.
    • We know this because we are talking about FLESH.
  • And HERE we get the word that separates man and woman. It is NOT Adam and Eve.  Its Ish and Ishah.  Or Adam and Ishah.
    • However, Adam gives Ishah an ACTUAL name at the end of this passage AFTER the fall (which we will talk about shortly).

I also believe that when Adam and Ishah are created within them STILL existed the masculine and feminine energies.  The ONLY thing separated was flesh. Physical.

I’ll pause for you to chew on this.  But let’s keep going.

We now go to the story of the apple and the tree.  Spoiler alert – THERE WAS NO APPLE.

So Adam and Ishah were both naked and unashamed.

The serpent was “cunning” – more cunning than all the beasts of the field.  And HERE we get a curious question that the serpent asks Ishah:

• (Genesis 3:1) “Did God indeed say, ‘You shall not eat of any of the trees of the garden?'”

This is a SEEMINGLY curious question – “did God REALLY say?”  However, it came from a place of manipulation.

But Ishah’s reaction is one of defensiveness.  She is NOT resolved. She engages with the serpent and her defensiveness and doubt leads to LITERALY judgment.  She ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  She took upon herself and made the CHOICE to judge – and not be curious.

I don’t know about you, but I relate to Ishah in this moment.  BECAUSE. The feminine is ALSO within my male body. How often have I been defensive when people ask curious questions?  But even if the motives are for manipulation – I have a literal choice.  Judge or stay curious. Eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or remain curious back.

So her defensiveness causes her to eat. To judge. She gave some to Adam – who was with her – and he also ate. He judged.  He remained silent.

And. Here we see man’s first fragile masculinity appear. Remaining silent in the face of judgment.

Ishah got defensive (like we all do) when faced with curious questions. Ish remained silent (like we all do) when faced with judgment.

And immediately I think of the conflict in the middle east right now.

• A lot of what I see is judgment and silence. On both sides.
• I don’t see curiosity.

But that’s another blog for another time.  Let’s get back to the portion.

So Ishah and Adam eat the fruit. They judge, because they NOW KNOW good and evil.

And immediately, they realize. They are naked. And. The descent to slavery continues.

Instead of being CURIOUS about their nakedness? They judge.  They feel embarrassed and shame. Probably NOT because of the nakedness, but because of the choice they made to judge.  They are now judging THEMSELVES.  And to cover up this shame – which exposed their nakedness? They cover the nakedness.

Wow – they missed the point.  And so do we.  How often, when we JUDGE (ourselves and others) do we try to cover it up -instead of focusing on the judgment?  Releasing the judgment and remaining curious. THIS is the lesson (in my opinion).

And now? Hashem confronts Ishah and Adam.

Hashem asks them “where are you?” Which is a curious question for God who knows all.  Hashem knew. The question wasn’t meant for Hashem – it was meant to expose something for Adam and Ishah.  It was a CURIOUS question – and we see both Adam and Ishah respond with DEFENSIVENESS.

And. We see Adam engage in more masculine fragility.  What does he do? He blames the woman.  (Eye roll).  And what does Ishah do? Blames the serpent.  Toxic masculinity at it’s finest.  Because we are called to be CURIOUS. And to NOT judge. Hashem so far doesn’t judge, Hashem is curious. But right now – at this moment in the Torah, we see Hashem’s judgement appear.  And who gets judged FIRST?

The serpent.  God curses the serpent.  Because the truth is – the serpent began this curious journey from manipulative intents. The serpent instigated.

Then, God levels consequences for Ishah – because she doubted and got defensive. She did not respond in curiosity. She responded with judgment.

Then God levels consequences for Adam – because he remained silent.

And we close today’s portion with Eve’s REAL name – Chavah (the CH is pronounced like Chanukah).  Why Chavah? BECAUSE SHE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL LIFE.  Despite the judgment.  All of life will be born from Chavah.  Chavah is a powerful woman – despite her initial defensiveness.  She is not the Eve we hear about who was weak.   Hashem EMPOWERS CHAVAH after these events.  Because (in my opinion) Hashem knew her guilt and shame were part of the series of events that unfolded to the judgment.

But the lesson here – continues to be – curiosity and not judgment.  But we go deeper:

Yesterday I wrote:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
• The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity

Today I add:

• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
• Curiosity with the intent to manipulate and sow seeds of doubt is problematic for THEM – but doubt and defensiveness is a problem for US.

The lesson of Adam and Chavah (not ADAM AND EVE) is will we remain curious and ascend? Or will we judge and begin to form our own prison?

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 26 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Fourth Portion: Genesis 3:22 – 4:18

Today we see Adam and Chavah are expelled from the Garden of Eden.  My initial take here is that the Garden was designed within us.  To be perfectly balanced within.  Curiosity – not judgment.  Adam and Chavah ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil – so they now had the knowledge of judgment.  And because of this – they were forced out. To seek external sources of fulfillment – because within them, within us – they had EVERYTHING they needed – but it “wasn’t enough.”

So Hashem expels them outward. And it is interesting that Genesis 3:24 says this:

“And He drove the man out, and He stationed from the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and the blade of the revolving sword, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.”

If I am correct – and the Garden of Eden is within us – then the Tree of Life is within us as well.  We have been discussing choices.  What is a greater choice – the tree of LIFE or the tree of the KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.  Adam and Chavah had these choices within.  To live or to judge.  They chose judgment instead of the curiosity of life. We are faced with the same choice.

The tree of life is within.  Let’s build our learning off of the past week:

Themes I’ve written about:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
  • The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity
• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
  • Curiosity with the intent to manipulate and sow seeds of doubt is problematic for THEM – but doubt and defensiveness is a problem for US.

Today we add:

• The tree of life is within us. Choose life within with curiosity and not judgment
  • The tree of knowledge of good and evil pushes us externally. Judgement is always outward to avoid the judgment within

And now – it is time for us to add – the famous story of Cain and Abel.

Let’s read (Genesis 4:3-8):

3Now it came to pass at the end of days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the soil an offering to the Lord.

4And Abel he too brought of the firstborn of his flocks and of their fattest, and the Lord turned to Abel and to his offering.

5But to Cain and to his offering He did not turn, and it annoyed Cain exceedingly, and his countenance fell.

6And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you annoyed, and why has your countenance fallen?

7Is it not so that if you improve, it will be forgiven you? If you do not improve, however, at the entrance, sin is lying, and to you is its longing, but you can rule over it.”

8And Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.

What I read here THIS TIME is fascinating.

• “At the end of days”
  • What? At the end of days? So wait. Is this a story of our future? I hadn’t picked up on this before. Now the midrash adds “at the end (of a number) of days.” But that is quite interesting for sure.
• Cain brings fruit of the soil. What I do NOT read is that Cain bought the FIRST fruits of the soil.
• Abel brings the FIRST born and FATTEST of his flocks.
  • This would have clearly indicated Abel brought his best. Cain just brought. Cain did the minimum, Abel went above and beyond.
  • This is judgement.
  • The curious question for me? WHY? Why did Cain only bring his fruits? Why NOT his FIRST fruits? We just finished celebrating Sukkot – the harvest of the first fruits. And we read Cain just brough fruit.
• The Lord turned to Abel and his offering.
• Instead of getting CURIOUS about WHY Hashem turned to Abel – Cain felt judgment. He did not respond with curiosity. Had Cain been curious – and not been quick to judge, for all we know, Hashem would have turned to Cain AFTER Abel.

We, however, have the luxury Cain did not.  We can ask “Why?” And Hashem provides us a decent answer.  Hashem turned to Abel and not Cain – FOR CAIN’S GOOD.  It’s in Hashem’s response:

7Is it not so that if you improve, it will be forgiven you? If you do not improve, however, at the entrance, sin is lying, and to you is its longing, but you can rule over it.”

We learn here – Hashem was working with Cain – to teach him.  Hashem is not judging us. Hashem wants GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT.  Curiosity and not judgment. Forgiveness.  Growth and Development is the marks of forgiveness.

Full stop.

We talk a lot about forgiveness in the Torah don’t we? This short verse connects us to the idea that we are ALL Cain.  Cain has the opportunity to LEARN. To GROW. To IMPROVE.  That is the POINT.

We have a choice. Grow and develop on one side – stay stuck on the other.

And here is what being stuck leads to: Sin.  We will get into “sin” later.  But Hashem gives us ANOTHER choice:

• Long to sin, or rule over sin.

Judgment leads to longing to sin. Curiosity rules over sin.

And Cain doesn’t learn. Doesn’t listen does he? He feels judged. He longs to sin. And he kills his brother. Who LITERALLY did NOTHING WRONG.  Because Cain felt judgment. Shame. Guilt. Instead of opportunity. Growth. Development.

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
  • The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity

And still. Hashem is full of grace here. We close this portion with Hashem responding  to Cain (Genesis 4:14-18):

14Behold You have driven me today off the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from before You, and I will be a wanderer and an exile in the land, and it will be that whoever finds me will kill me.”

15And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be wrought upon him sevenfold,” and the Lord placed a mark on Cain that no one who find him slay him.

16And Cain went forth from before the Lord, and he dwelt in the land of the wanderers, to the east of Eden.

17And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch, and he was building a city, and he called the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

18And Irad was born to Enoch, and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehijael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lemech.

Cain sees. He sees what he’s done.  He screwed up.  Cain was NOW judging himself. Cain knew he deserved death.  But Hashem tells Cain – “nope. You are protected. You are learning. You are growing.”

The message is this. Whatever we do. Whatever we’ve done. It was all according to Hashem’s plan.  Not because he controls us like robots – but because Hashem exists outside of this time and space.  And it would appear what Hashem wants more than anything – is Growth and Development.  To not LONG for sin, but to rule over sin.  Within. This is all about us. Within us.

So often we look at OTHERS’ sins. We look at what our neighbor is doing “wrong.”  But we ignore and are not curious about seeing others’ sin and reflecting within us where we might be doing something similar.  As a lesson. As a way to rule over our OWN sin. And not JUDGE.

Be curious. Don’t judge.

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
  • The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity

These are my thoughts.  What are yours?

 

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 27 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Fifth Portion: Genesis 4:19-22

Short portion today.

So leading to today’s portion, we have Adam and Chavah.  From them, Cain is the next Generation.  We learn about his troubled early years with his brother Abel.  At the end of the portion yesterday, we get a run down of sons born to sons from Cain to Lamech.  No specific women were mentioned.  So leading to today’s portion, we have the following getting space (beyond a name) in the Torah:

• Male: Adam & Cain
• Female: Chavah

Let’s look directly at today’s portion (Genesis 4:19-22):

19And Lemech took himself two wives; one was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah.

20Now Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle.

21And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who grasp a lyre and a flute.

22And Zillah she too bore Tubal-cain, who sharpened all tools that cut copper and iron, and Tubal-cain’s sister was Na’amah.

To summarize, Adah and Zillah are mothers of the following people:

• Adah:
  • Jabal: Father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle
    • This would seem to indicate Jabal was the beginning of knowledge passed down to farmers and those working the land
  • Jubal: Father of those who grasp a lyre and flute
    • This would seem to indicate Jubal was the beginning of knowledge passed down to creative types (artisans)
  • Zillah:
    • Tubal-cain: Father of those who sharpened tools cutting copper and iron
      • Those who made tools and weapons – fighters?
    • Na’Amah

I take note here – when the Torah mentions a woman, my eyes and ears perk up.  It would seem they are mentioned a critical times. Yes, they get ignored in the generations between Cain and Lamech.  But why here? Why doesn’t the Torah just keep the pattern of “this dude had this dude as a son.” It would seem to keep to that pattern, the Torah could have saved a lot of space here: “Lamech bore three sons; Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain.”

There has to be a reason why Adah, Zillah and Na’Amah are mentioned, right?  Let’s keep this in mind tomorrow and Saturday as we finish the Parsha.  But it is a curious question.  But we learn that Adah and Zillah are crucial women as they get names mentioned about the kids they had.

So we now add to our “scoreboard” of Torah mentioning people beyond just a name:

• Previous generations:
  • Male: Adam, Cain, Lamech
  • Female: Chavah, Adah, Zillah
• Current generation:
  • Male: Jabal, Jubal, Tubal-Cain
  • Na’Amah

There does seem to be a balance doesn’t there? And part of me wants to go inward.

Within me – what part of me connects with Adam? Cain? Lamech?  What part of me connects with Chavah, Adah, Zillah?  Before this moment?

And – at this moment? What parts of me connect with Jabal (farming), Jubal (creativity), and Tubal-Cain (tools and weapons)?  And what about Na’Amah?

The Torah may be connecting me to this feminine spirit within me.  This part of me that connects with Chavah – who turned curiosity into judgment. And like Adah and Zillah, is connected and desires to mother and nurture parts of me that connect to creativity, farming, tools, weapons?

Maybe this is why Na’Amah isn’t mentioned beyond a name? To bring us inward – and open space for us to explore?  I don’t know.

But from this small passage today, it would see there are a lot of things to explore and unpack!  What do you think?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 28 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Sixth Portion: Genesis 4:23 – 5:24

What an amazing week.  With the chaos of the world around us, we are left with the peace that comes from connecting with our Neshama – the part of Hashem within us.  The New Moon is approaching on Saturday, and with it we get ready to turn the page on the month of Tishri and focus on Cheshvan.  The month/moon cycle ahead is a little “anti-climactic” given the internal work and spiritual growth of the past two cycles.  We are coming out of the significant month of Tishri – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemeni Atzeret and Simchat Torah.  That’s A LOT!  But as Chabad writes HERE – it’s time to really go out and live with this new growth and learning.

There is EVEN a kabbalistic belief that Cheshvan will be when Moshiach comes – to establish the Third Temple – since it is wide open for new Holy Days to be added!

Regardless, we are now turning our sights ahead for the adventure to come!  Let’s dig into the Torah today!

The portion starts with this (Genesis 4:23-24):

23Now Lemech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, hearken to my voice; wives of Lemech, incline your ears to my words, for I have slain a man by wounding (him) and a child by bruising (him).

24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then for Lemech it shall be seventy seven fold.”

So Lemech seems to have killed Cain and his son.  This seems to bring to an end this part of Adam and Chavah’s family.  Because we now start over.

25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son, and she named him Seth, for God has given me other seed, instead of Abel, for Cain slew him.

26And to Seth also to him a son was born, and he named him Enosh; then it became common to call by the name of the Lord.

There is a Kabbalistic belief that Seth bore the good part of the soul of Abel. Later on, Kabbalah talks about the fully healed soul of Abel was passed into Moses.  The three Hebrew letters of the word MoSHeH (Hebrew for Moses) are Mosheh, SHet (Seth), and Hevel (Abel).

Something to reflect on!  Let’s keep going.

The rest of the portion is a bit of time travel BACK to Adam.  We get the family tree and account of the dudes who are the bloodline (eventually) to Noah.  We won’t get to Noah today.  But it would seem today’s portion is pointing us to the importance of Noah.  Here are the names:

When Hashem created us, He created Adam. Adam has a resemblance to God.  He created THEM (hello singular They/Them pronoun, I see you!) male AND female.  He named the ADAM on the day THEY were created.  Here’s the actual passage from the Torah:

Genesis 5:1-2:

1This is the narrative of the generations of man; on the day that God created man, in the likeness of God He created him.

2Male and female He created them, and He blessed them, and He named them man (Adam) on the day they were created.

So the word “man” was unisex in the Torah.  Remember, Chavah was created LATER after Adam.  Adam is who was created on day one. Adam was BOTH male and female.

Now let’s dig into the tree:

• 5:3 “Adam fathered a son resembling himself and with his form, and he named him Seth.” He also fathered sons and daughters (which indicates the genders were now split at this point). He died.
• Seth fathered Enosh. He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.
• Enosh fathered Kenan. He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.
• Kenan fathered Mahalalel. He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.
• Mahalalel fathered Jared (awwwwwe he went to Jared). He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.
• Jared fathered Enoch. He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.

Let’s stop for a minute before finishing up.  Curiosity keeps creeping up for me.

Why is the Torah so repetitive here? Why is Hashem telling us the ages and that each of these men ALSO fathered sons and daughters and ALSO they died? There is a pattern. Why?  I think we are about to get an answer as we close today’s portion (Genesis 5:21-24):

21And Enoch lived sixty five years, and he begot Methuselah.

22And Enoch walked with God after he had begotten Methuselah, three hundred years, and he begot sons and daughters.

23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years.

24And Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer, for God had taken him.

So. Enoch breaks the pattern. What do we notice about what the Torah says about Enoch?  Let’s play the old Sesame Street game, “One of these things is NOT like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong!”  What do we notice about Enoch?

• After having his son, Methuselah, Enoch walked with God. That is completely different than the names before Enoch. I think we need to pay attention to “Enoch walked with God.”
• Instead of saying “and he died” like every other dude in the line? INSTEAD, the Torah says “And Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer, for God had taken him.”

So what can we glean (in my opinion) as we enter into Cheshvan? If we want to live a different life? If we want to change our lives? If you are feeling stuck. If you are feeling like the cycle just keeps going and going and going?

Walk with Hashem.

Sounds simple, right? But it is not easy.  And, as I have mentioned before? Hashem is in us. Our Neshama.  And, as I have mentioned before? Hashem is love. Regardless of what “His people” are doing around the world; not all “walk with Hashem.”  Many just go about repeating a cycle again and again.  You want change?

Walk with Hashem.  Walk with Love. First, within. Then move out with it.  Walk with your Neshama. Spend time with your Neshama. Spend time with the love that is within you. Then. Allow that love to go out into the world and make a difference.

This is the path to life. This is the path AWAY from death.  Because instead of “and he died”? I don’t know about you? I want “and he was no longer, for Hashem had taken him.”  You could almost rewrite that “and he was no longer, for LOVE had taken him.”

That is what I want for me.  That is what I want for US.

Those are my thoughts.  What are yours?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 29 Tishri, 5784
Parsha Bereshit: (Genesis 1:1 – 6:18)
Seventh Portion: Genesis 5:25 – 6:18

Shabbat Shalom!

To summarize our takeaways so far this week – this is what I’ve written:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
  • The Path of Imprisonment begins with judgment and not curiosity
• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
  • Curiosity with the intent to manipulate and sow seeds of doubt is problematic for THEM – but doubt and defensiveness is a problem for US.
• The tree of life is within us. Choose life within with curiosity and not judgment
  • The tree of knowledge of good and evil pushes us externally. Judgement is always outward to avoid the judgment within

Yesterday, we left off with Enoch – who “walked with God” after having his son Methusaleh.  Let’s dig into our portion:

We immediately jump BACK into the pattern of the men before Enoch.

• Methusaleh fathered Lamech. He also fathered sons and daughters. He died.

And then the pattern breaks again.

• Lamech fathered a son. He named him Noah. AND, the Torah explains WHY he was named Noah (From Genesis 5:29):

29And he named him Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands from the ground, which the Lord has cursed.”

So this connects us back to Adam and Chavah, doesn’t it?  So let’s do a quick count.  Since Adam:

1. Seth
2. Enosh
3. Kenan
4. Mahalalel
5. Jared
6. Enoch (Breaking the pattern)
7. Methusaleh
8. Lamech (Breaking the pattern)

Now. Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared all died. 5 men.

Enoch did NOT die.  He was “taken by God.”

Methusaleh died. 6^th man.

Lamech was the seventh man. From Adam.  7 generations. 7 is connected to the Sabbath, is it not?  And what did Lamech create? Noah. For the purpose of rest.  There is something BEAUTIFUL about that, isn’t there?

Noah was born with the purpose of rest. And we read this on the day of rest.  The Sabbath.

And we dig into Noah’s life and the life around him.  And I think some of this will sound familiar to us.  To summarize Chapter 6:1-18

• Daughters were born to men
• Sons of nobles saw the daughters of men were beautifying themselves and took wives from whomever they chose.
• Basically, we get introduced to the Nephilim – angels. Who were on the earth back then.
• The sons of nobles would come to the daughter of man and they would bear children.
• The children between sons of nobles and daughters of man were the mighty men. The men of renown.
• Hashem saw the evil of man was great in the earth.
• Hashem planned to wipe them out. Hashem was going to “begin again.”
• Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Now let’s stop.  I have some questions here.

• Who are the “sons of nobles?” Are they the same as the Nephilim?
• What about the “daughters of nobles?”
• What about the “sons of men?”

Without digging too deep right now. It would seem that nobility had to do with power.  Because we read: Genesis 6:2: “That the sons of the nobles saw the daughters of man when they were beautifying themselves, and they took for themselves wives from whomever they chose.”

The “sons of nobles” seem to have power.  They had choice. Nobility is connected to power and choice at least it would seem.  And Hashem seems to be a little concerned about this.

Genesis 6:3: “And the Lord said, “Let My spirit not quarrel forever concerning man, because he is also flesh, and his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.”

So – Hashem understood that man was flesh.  He was not just a soul – there was a body around, and there were animal instincts.  And – it was still concerning.

But I digress a bit.  There has been a LOT of thought put into this by people wiser than I.  I want to share three explanations here – taken from this article.

1. Angels taking a risk: The idea is the angels warned Hashem what would happen if He created men on earth. That they would become corrupt.  The angels told Hashem, they could do a MUCH better job, and Hashem knew that wasn’t true.  Of course they went down, and were corrupted too.
   1. This interpretation gives me great comfort to consider that if Angels were corrupted coming down here, we can be a little less “judgy” of each other when we stumble and fall. This is the condition of freedom.  And remember, freedom is curiosity and not judgment
2. Corrupt Authorities: This is a literal take on the passage. That those who had risen to prominence among humanity became corrupt.
3. Fallen Humans: This is the idea that there were “spiritually great” humans living among humanity. They were spiritually higher than other humans – ascended masters, so to speak. They fell from their spiritual heights and became corrupted.
   1. This interpretation challenges me to continue to push myself towards growth and development spiritually, and not “coast” on my past experienced.

So – all of this to say. This weeks takeaways seem to be:

• The Path of Ascension begins with curiosity and not judgement
• If someone’s curiosity causes doubt and defensiveness, be curious about our own doubt and defensiveness and NOT their motives for curiosity.
• The tree of life is within us. Choose life within with curiosity and not judgment
• Learn to balance the comfort of stumbling, with the challenge of pushing ourselves towards spiritual growth.

I am curious as to your thoughts on this!  Shabbat Shalom!