Parshat Bereshis - Genesis 1:1-6:8 - "Abraham's Tent" - Weekly D'var from Rabbi John Ludemann

By Rabbi John Ludemann, BTh.

We begin with the Beginning. The story of Genesis reaches its height with humanity (Man). Man is created in the image of G-D and has a “Neshama” a soul that has the power of speech, as well as self-awareness. G-D tries to find a help-mate for Man when no suitable mate can be found, G-D splits man in two and Woman is brought forth.

The two are placed in the garden (Eden) and that is when the trouble starts.

We see in Genesis 3:1-4, that after G-D instructs Man to not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Good and Bad. The Woman takes on the assumption that “Even if they touch the fruit, she will die” (Gen. 3:2)

So what happens next is why Adam and Eve are thrown out of the Garden. In verse 12 of Genesis chapter 3 it is not that Adam admits to the error, but passes the blame onto the woman, then the woman passes the blame onto the Serpent. This is the first “Pass the buck “in human history.

The concept of “Original Sin” is a new one. It has only existed since around 420CE with Augustine of Hippo (St. Augustine). This concept, for the most part, is unknown to Judaism.

We know the “Blame Game” is the issue since it happens again with Cain and Abel.
In fact, G-D warns Cain not to let it get the better of him since his jealousy of Abel’s offering is what makes Cain kill his brother.

“6 And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee is its desire, but thou mayest rule over it.” (JPS)

G-D tells Cain that if he pulls himself together and gets a better attitude he will be found acceptable to the Almighty.

It is that “Take responsibility for your actions” that is all over the bible. We are taught that if we do right and be responsible for our actions we will live sinlessly. To drive this home, this portion of the Genesis ends with a final example that you can live a holy and complete life. We have the prime example of Enoch. 

In Genesis 5:21-24, we see that Seth’s son Enoch lived a long life, “walked with G-D” and did NOT die!

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years and begot Methuselah.  And Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him.” (JPS)

Enoch lived in alignment with the Creator of the Universe.  He didn’t pass the buck he did not allow the blame game get him. He lived a righteous life and in effect, a sinless life.

Much of this life we live is one where we either live by blaming everyone or everything for our shortcomings or we change. It is the moment we come to grips with our responsibility for our actions and make a change (repentance) or in Hebrew called “T’Shuvah”.  T’Shuvah is a verb; it literally means:  “To turn around and go the other way”. It is an action, not just change in heart but in deed.

This is the essence of the story of humanity. To make the world a better place by starting with ourselves. Fixing our attitude and taking on the responsibility for this world and our actions within it.

That is how we are blessed by G-D, by doing right, admitting wrong, and changing our direction.

Next week: Noah