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From Cantor Goldstein October 25, 2024

Creation-why did God put us here?

   Here we go again, starting all over from the beginning, in fact that’s what that word means             “B’reysheet-At first or In the Beginning.” How fascinating that something that seems to have no concrete beginning and no known end, we say is how this all started.

   Perhaps, we are speaking about a spiritual beginning. Until mankind was created, there was no animal capable of truly recognizing HaShem in the universe. Everything up until the sixth day of creation, was what was necessary for God‘s final act, and that was to create human beings.

   It is no wonder that when Adam and Eve when firmly were presented with two trees that they were not allowed to eat from, one which promised immortality and the other knowledge, they ate from the tree of knowledge. How interesting that humans would rather know each other and the world around them, more importantly than LIVING FOREVER.

   Whether we actually could ever have chosen immortality, it would be useless to live forever and not know anything. I think that is the essence of living and being alive. It is to know about things around us and more importantly to know other people. That is why when it says that Adam and Eve conceived a child, it says that Adam “Yadah et Chavah,” yes, that Adam knew Eve. What an incredible idea, that to produce a child that will help to “perfect” the world, otherwise known as Tikun Olam, the two people must truly know each other.

   Then we are confronted by the first two children in the world Cain and Abel, two brothers who choose different paths in life. One Abel becomes a herder of cattle and the other a farmer. I am pretty sure that we are not supposed to take these stories quite literally, although many would disagree. You all know what happens next. When God accepts Ablel’s offering and tells Cain to try again, Cain rises up and strikes his brother and kills him.

   If you know the history of the Jewish people and our relationship with our brothers and cousins, the people of the Arabic world, you know it has not been a good one. The difference is that Cain immediately realizes that he has done something terribly wrong. At first, he tries to hide it and speaks the famous words “where is your brother Cain? I don’t know, am I my brother‘s keeper.”

   In that same discussion, Cain flips 180° and says to God, I realize how terrible it is what I did, I will be marked for the rest of my life and anyone who comes after me will try to kill me. The Torah in its own brilliant way, teaches us the first act of Teshuvah and the first act of forgiveness Selichah. Cain says to God I was wrong!! God then puts a mark on him that tells people do not kill this man for his wrongdoing.

  Obviously, murder is not acceptable, even if you’re sorry. I think the point of the story is that in the world that you live in at the time, most things short of murder can find a way towards forgiveness. We are coming to the end of the High Holy days. Although the proverbial gates of Heaven are closing for this year, we know from the immediate next Torah portion that God has our backs and would rather us do wrong and come back, then to not live at all.

Have a great beginning everyone. Every day is another one to try to do well and to change the world for better.

Shabbat shalom, Cantor Marty

 

Thu, February 13 2025 15 Shevat 5785