Bereishis – Peninim on the Torah

“And Hashem, Elokim, fashioned the side that He had taken from the man into a woman.” (2:22)

The Midrash teaches us that Hashem “deliberated” before He created the first woman. Everything is influenced by the source from which it is created. Consequently, Hashem arranged it so that woman would not be created from any part of the body which would have an adverse affect upon her. He said, “If I create her from the head, she might become lightheaded. If I create her from the eyes, she might be overly curious, looking where she should not. If I create her from the ears, she might be predisposed to listen to gossip. If I create her from the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And, Hashem, Elokim, formed the man of dust from the ground.” (2:7)

Chazal call attention to the fact that the word rmhhu is spelled with a double “yud”. They infer from this exceptional case the dual nature of man. Two yetziros, creations, came into being. Man is a composite of mortal and immortal, earthly and heavenly, the yetzer tov, the good inclination, and the yetzer hora, its evil counterpart. He is created for Olam Ha’zeh, this temporal world, and Olam Ha’bah, the Eternal world. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, notes that while there are two “yudin,” only one “yud” is enunciated. One yetzira is audible while the other is quiescent. One is predominant,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And Hashem said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.'” (1:26)

This pasuk has been the source of abundant commentary. The plural form, “us,” seems to imply that Hashem consulted with others. Did the Almighty need assistance in order to create man? Chazal teach us that when Moshe wrote the Torah, he came to this pasuk and noticed the plural word “us.” He asked Hashem, “Master, why give heretics the opportunity to claim that there is more than one G-d?” Hashem responded, “Write! And whoever wants to err will err. Write, for if a great man ever says, ‘Why should I consult with others?’ they will tell him, ‘Learn from the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And Hashem said, ‘Let us make man.'” (1:26)

Shlomo Ha’Melech teaches us in Koheles 12:13, “When all is said and done, fear Hashem,… for that is the sum of man.” This is a remarkable statement! One who does not fear Heaven is an animal! Is the fear of G-d the true determining factor in one’s humanness? Perhaps it is a component in his physical makeup, but is it not bold to say that this is the primary, the sole factor, in his characterization as a human being? Horav Elchanan Wasserman, zl, claims that, indeed, one’s humanness is in direct proportion to his fear of G-d. The more…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

Rashi comments that Hashem had planned that the tree would have the same taste as the fruit. The earth disobeyed, generating trees that bore fruit, but which were not themselves fruit. Consequently, Hashem punished the earth together with man. The commentators explain that prior to the time that natural law was definitely established, Hashem had granted the earth an element of “creative” freedom. In addition, as the Rambam states in Hilchos Yesodei Ha’Torah, the various parts of creation have a living soul and consciousness of their own existence. Horav Eli Munk, zl, cites the Chizkuni, who offers the earth’s…

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“And Hashem, Elokim, fashioned the side that He had taken from the man into a woman.” (2:22)

“And, Hashem, Elokim, formed the man of dust from the ground.” (2:7)

“And Hashem said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.'” (1:26)

“And Hashem said, ‘Let us make man.'” (1:26)

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

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