Temple Aliyah
Torah Talk 
Wishing You A Peaceful And Restful ShabbatOctober 12-18, 2014



Torah Talk is created to help spur conversation about the themes in the weekly Torah portion (parasha).  We hope that it will become a valuable addition to your week - both at your Shabbat table and during the rest of your daily routine.

B'reisheet

   

In Parashat B'reisheet it all begins, and then almost ends. In the beginning, the Torah describes how the Eternal One created the Universe day by day, beginning with the Heavens and the Earth and culminating with humanity. After six days, God ceases from the acts of creation and sanctifies the seventh day as the crown jewel of creation - the Sabbath. The parasha continues with the stories of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the conflict between their sons Cain and Abel, and then a review of all the generations from Adam to Noah. The portion concludes with God's regret over the wickedness of human beings, and the decision to destroy everything on earth.

 

Genesis (B'reisheet) Parashat B'reisheet 3:24

He drove the man out, and stationed East of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.

 

After Adam and Eve exit the Garden the Torah tells us that "Cherubim" we placed at the entrance of the garden to stand guard. Our rabbis are quite interested in the nature of these mythological creatures. Consider that Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss wrote, "These creatures appear elsewhere as God's entourage. Their sculpted form decorates the holy ark (Exodus 25:18)." She goes on to suggest that the gateway to the garden may be closed, but the world has opened up.

 

Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky said, "The same cherubim that held swords as they stood guard at the gates of Eden are not doomed to that position. They can change drastically when they are placed upon an Aron Kodesh. When they are on top of the Aron, they guard it and cherish it. Young children are affected by their whereabouts. Place them as guards and they will brandish swords. Put them with the Aron Kodesh -- let them feel the sanctity and they will become the cherubim we all cherish and aspire to emulate."

 

Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz wrote, "Though the entrance to Eden was guarded by the angels with the flaming sword, the gentler angel of mercy did not forsake them in their exile. Adam and Eve discovered Repentance - the Rabbis tell us - and thereby they came nearer to God outside of Eden than when in Eden."

 

Lastly, Dennis Potter changes gears and insists that we should understand this section metaphorically. He insists, "The loss of Eden is personally experienced by every one of us as we leave the wonder and magic and also the pains and terrors of childhood."

 

*Prepared with materials found in Torah Sparks

 

The following questions can be used as a basis for a discussion, feel free to find your own answers and explore each question in greater detail.

  1. Both A Women's Commentary and Rabbi Hertz suggest the distinct benefits of expulsion from Eden. Were the fearsome beasts and fiery sword intended to protect the garden from human beings... or to protect humanity from the dangers of re-entering the garden?
  2. How are we today "nearer to God" than the first human beings in Eden? How might Genesis - and Rabbi Hertz - counsel us to draw nearer still?
  3. Rabbi Kamenetzky's discussion of child development and education seems to reflect the popular view of cherubim as baby-faced angels, rather than fierce, winged leonine beasts! How would such imagery alter our understanding of the verse above?

If you wish additional material on the parasha (Torah portion of the week) feel free to check out the following sites:

 

http://www.g-dcast.com -- Animated Take on the Parasha

http://www.ajula.edu/Content/ContentUnit.asp?CID=187&u=6277&t=0-- Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies Online Learning Portal

http://www.jtsa.edu/Conservative_Judaism/JTS_Torah_Commentary.xml-- Torah from the Jewish Theological Seminary  
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