The Original Sin
What is the Original Sin, or the sin that Adam and Eve are known for? Everyone will say that they ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. But if you ask me, I believe Hashem considered this whole scenario: Adam took fruit from Chava's hands and ate it, fully knowing it was forbidden, since G-d told him not to eat it; he fell for it without putting up a fight. I believe the Original Sin of Adam and Eve should be known in the order of events: Chava giving the fruit to Adam, and Adam taking and eating it with no resistance on his part.
The question would be: how will Hashem help the Nation fix this sin?
In Parashat Lech Lecha 15-17:22, G-d makes a covenant with Avraham Avinu, the Covenant of the Halves. In it, Hashem promises Avraham Avinu offspring as many as the stars in Heaven. Avraham believes Hashem and brings sacrifices. But when he comes home, Sarah offers him Hagar since they have no children, and Avraham agrees.
Parashat Lech Lecha 16:2 - And Sarai said to Abram, "Look, G-d has kept me from bearing. Consort with my maid; perhaps I shall have a child through her." And Abram heeded Sarai’s request.
What happened to the covenant made between Avraham and Hashem, where Hashem promised him offspring as many as the stars in Heaven? How come he agreed, and so fast, without putting up a fight?
In Parashat Lech Lecha 17:1-3 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, G-d appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between You and Me, and I will make you exceedingly numerous. Abram threw himself on his face." (Off-topic: "When Hashem came to Noach, he was already Tamim - Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with G-d.")
But back to Avraham Avinu, Abram threw himself on his face - this is when he realized he had made a mistake, although I bet it was eating him inside, since he had made a covenant with G-d but gave in too fast to his wife's words. The situation we deal with in that region is what was left to us from the above episode.
Since Avraham Avinu couldn't fix Adam's sin, Hashem awaits his son, Yitzchak. In Parashat Toldot 25:22, it says: Isaac pleaded with G-d on behalf of his wife, because she was infertile; and G-d responded to his plea, and his wife Rivkah conceived."
Says Rashi, לנכח אשתו opposite his wife — He stood in one corner and prayed while she stood in the other corner and prayed (Genesis Rabbah 63:5). And Hashem answered his prayer.
Continues Rashi: ויעתר לו [AND THE LORD] WAS ENTREATED OF HIM — of him and not of her, because there is no comparison between the prayer of a righteous person who is the son of a righteous person and the prayer of a righteous person who is the child of a wicked-person — therefore G-d allowed himself to be entreated of him and not of her (Masechet Yevamot 64a).
But I believe the above sentence can be understood differently.
We are introduced to the Shalom Bayit issue - the first ever recorded in the Torah.
Rivkah Imenu also did not have children for many years, and just like Sarah Imenu, she approached her husband and offered him her maid to have children with. But Yitzchak Avinu did not want to do this. His train of thought was as follows: I was the sacrifice my father Avraham Avinu brought when I was 37 years old; I am holy and elevated above all; and now you want me to be with your maid and have children with her? No! This is not something I will do, or in any way or form agree with!
Their views radically differed; opposite to his wife, "he is in one corner, and she is in the other." Hashem loved his approach and dedication - and "answered his prayer".
Adam's sin of not standing up to his wife and making the right choice was corrected by Yitzchak Avinu, who stood up to his wife, no matter how much stress or headache she gave him, and did not go with her maid; he had children only with Rivkah Imenu.
Yay, we should be happy that the sin of Adam and Eve is fixed!! Nope, not at all. This sin consists of two parts. Adam HaRishon giving in to his wife's demand, and Hashem's response to the situation.
In Parashat Bereshit 3:6, it says: "וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טוֹב֩ הָעֵ֨ץ לְמַאֲכָ֜ל וְכִ֧י תַֽאֲוָה־ה֣וּא לָעֵינַ֗יִם וְנֶחְמָ֤ד הָעֵץ֙ לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַתִּקַּ֥ח מִפִּרְי֖וֹ וַתֹּאכַ֑ל וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ עִמָּ֖הּ וַיֹּאכַֽל׃ - When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate."
Per Oral Torah tradition, the word לְאִישָׁ֛הּ - Le Yisha is translated as to her husband, due to a dagesh in the Hey - a dot in the last letter Hey. But when the text is written in the Sefer Torah scroll, it has no vowels and no Dagesh in the word לאישה - Le Yisha is written, so this word can also be translated as: To a Woman.
Questions:
Why was Hashem's response: comparing Adam to a woman?
What is Hashem trying to tell us?
When, how, and who has atoned for Adam HaRishon, his remaining part of the tikkun?
Hashem has left us a MAJOR clue; He doesn't leave these types of clues for no reason. Why did He do that? And the most important question we should ask ourselves: what do we do with this piece of information?
Attention:
To the holy Rebbes: Please let me explain the rest of the answer.
Shmuel Katanov
