פרק ראשון: על הזוגיות סוגיה 1- מיהו אדם?

(כו) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבְכָל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (כז) וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃ (כח) וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל־חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

(26) And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.” (27) And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (28) God blessed them and God said to them, “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the living things that creep on earth.”

(א) זֶ֣ה סֵ֔פֶר תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת אָדָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם בְּרֹ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ אָדָ֔ם בִּדְמ֥וּת אֱלֹהִ֖ים עָשָׂ֥ה אֹתֽוֹ׃ (ב) זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בְּרָאָ֑ם וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָ֗ם וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶת־שְׁמָם֙ אָדָ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִבָּֽרְאָֽם׃ (ס)

(1) This is the record of Adam’s line.—When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God; (2) male and female He created them. And when they were created, He blessed them and called them Man.—

מדרש: לימוד של רעיון חדש מתוך עיון וחקר של פסוק מקראי. זוהי דרך יצירתית לבטא משמעויות נוספות ומסרים חדשים, מעבר ל"פשט" של הפסוק.

איך מצטטים פסוק מהתנ"ך? בספרות חז"ל ישנם ביטויים המציינים ציטוט מהתנ"ך: שנאמר, דכתיב.

אמר רבי אלעזר: כל אדם שאין לו אשה אינו אדם, שנאמר: (בראשית ה, ב) "זכר ונקבה בראם ויקרא את שמם אדם"

and who lends a sela to a pauper at his time of need, about him the verse states: “Then shall you call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say: Here I am” (Isaiah 58:9). § The Gemara provides a mnemonic device for a series of statements cited in the name of Rabbi Elazar: Woman; and land; helper; this; two; the blessings; merchants; lowly. The Gemara presents these statements: Rabbi Elazar said: Any man who does not have a wife is not a man, as it is stated: “Male and female He created them…and called their name Adam” (Genesis 5:2). And Rabbi Elazar said: Any man who does not have his own land is not a man, as it is stated: “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord; but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalms 115:16). And Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “I will make him a helpmate for him [kenegdo]” (Genesis 2:18)? If one is worthy his wife helps him; if he is not worthy she is against him. And some say a slightly different version: Rabbi Elazar raised a contradiction: It is written in the Torah with a spelling that allows it to be read: Striking him [kenagdo], and we read it as though it said: For him [kenegdo]. If he is worthy she is for him as his helpmate; if he is not worthy she strikes him. The Gemara relates that Rabbi Yosei encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: It is written: I will make him a helpmate. In what manner does a woman help a man? Elijah said to him: When a man brings wheat from the field, does he chew raw wheat? When he brings home flax, does he wear unprocessed flax? His wife turns the raw products into bread and clothing. Is his wife not found to be the one who lights up his eyes and stands him on his feet? And Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23)? This teaches that Adam had intercourse with each animal and beast in his search for his mate, and his mind was not at ease, in accordance with the verse: “And for Adam, there was not found a helpmate for him” (Genesis 2:20), until he had intercourse with Eve. And Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed [nivrekhu]” (Genesis 12:3)? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Abraham: I have two good shoots to graft [lehavrikh] onto you: Ruth the Moabite, the ancestress of the house of David, and Naamah the Ammonite, whose marriage with Solomon led to the ensuing dynasty of the kings of Judea. “All the families of the earth” means: Even families that live in the earth, i.e., who have land of their own, are blessed only due to the Jewish people. Similarly, when the verse states: “All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (Genesis 18:18), it indicates that even ships that come from Galia to Hispania are blessed only due to the Jewish people. And Rabbi Elazar said: All craftsmen are destined to stand upon and work the land, as it is stated: “And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land” (Ezekiel 27:29). And Rabbi Elazar said: There is no occupation lowlier than working the land, as it is stated: “And they shall come down,” implying that one who works the land is of lower stature than even a sailor. The Gemara similarly relates: Rabbi Elazar saw land that was plowed across its width. He said to it: Even if they plow you once more lengthwise, for further improvement, conducting business is better than farming with you, as the potential profits gained by selling merchandise are far greater than those from working the land. The Gemara relates a similar incident: Rav entered between the sheaves in a field and saw them waving in the wind. He said to them: If you want to wave go ahead and wave, but conducting business is better than farming with you. Rava similarly said: One who has a hundred dinars that are invested in a business is able to eat meat and wine every day, whereas he who has a hundred dinars worth of land eats only salt and vegetables. And what is more, working the land causes him to lie on the ground at night in order to guard it, and it draws quarrels upon him with other people. Rav Pappa said: Sow your own produce and do not buy it. Even though they are equal to each other in value, these that you sow will be blessed. Conversely, buy your clothes rather than weave [teizul] them yourself. The Gemara comments: This applies only to mats [bistarkei], but with regard to the cloak one wears, perhaps he will not find it precisely to his liking, and therefore he should make his own cloak, which fits his measurements. Rav Pappa further advised: If there is a hole in your house, close it up and do not enlarge it and then plaster it, or at least plaster it and do not knock it down and build it again. As, whoever engages in construction becomes poor. Hurry to buy land so that you do not lose the opportunity. Be patient and marry a woman who is suitable for you. Descend a level to marry a woman of lower social status, and ascend a level to choose a friend [shushevina]. Rabbi Elazar bar Avina said: Calamity befalls the world only due to the sins of the Jewish people, as it is stated: “I have cut off nations, their corners are desolate; I have made their streets waste” (Zephaniah 3:6), and it is written: “I said: Surely you will fear Me, you will receive correction” (Zephaniah 3:7). This indicates that other nations were punished so that the Jewish people would mend their ways. The Gemara cites more statements with regard to wives. When Rav was taking leave of his uncle and teacher, Rabbi Ḥiyya, upon his return from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: May the Merciful One save you from something that is worse than death. Rav was perplexed: Is there anything that is worse than death? He went, examined the sources, and found the following verse: “And I find more bitter than death the woman, etc.” (Ecclesiastes 7:26). Rabbi Ḥiyya was hinting at this verse, and indeed, Rav’s wife would constantly aggravate him. When he would say to her: Prepare me lentils, she would prepare him peas; if he asked her for peas, she would prepare him lentils. When Ḥiyya, his son, grew up, he would reverse the requests Rav asked him to convey to her, so that Rav would get what he wanted. Rav said to his son Ḥiyya: Your mother has improved now that you convey my requests. He said to Rav: It is I who reverse your request to her. Rav said to him: This is an example of the well-known adage that people say: He who comes from you shall teach you wisdom; I should have thought of that idea myself. You, however, should not do so, i.e., reverse my request, as it is stated: “They have taught their tongue to speak lies, they weary themselves to commit iniquity, etc.” (Jeremiah 9:4). If you attribute such a request to me, you will have uttered a falsehood. The Gemara relates a similar story. Rabbi Ḥiyya’s wife would constantly aggravate him. Nevertheless, when he would find something she would appreciate, he would wrap it in his shawl and bring it to her. Rav said to him: Doesn’t she constantly aggravate you? Why do you bring her things? Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: It is enough for us that our wives raise our children and save us

רבי אלעזר (בן פדת) – אמורא בדור השני. (מאה שלישית לספירה). עלה לארץ ישראל מבבל.

תלמידו של רבי יוחנן.

ביאור: בריאת האדם, על פי החלטת האל, מתוארת כבריאתם של האיש והאישה יחדיו: 'זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם', ומסיפור זה עולה שוויון מוחלט במעמדם. האל מברך את האיש והאישה ואומר להם, שייעודם הוא: פרייה ורבייה, מילוי הארץ, כיבוש הארץ ושלטון בבעלי החיים.

סיפור הבריאה השני

עיון ודיון

1. מהו הקושי הלשוני בתורה, הנוגע לבריאת האדם?

2. רבי אלעזר משתמש פעמיים במילה "אדם": מהי משמעות המילה בפעם הראשונה ומהי משמעותה בפעם השניה?

3. מהו הרעיון החדש שדורש רבי אלעזר?

(ד) אֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּי֗וֹם עֲשׂ֛וֹת יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃ (ה) וְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכָל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ (ו) וְאֵ֖ד יַֽעֲלֶ֣ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהִשְׁקָ֖ה אֶֽת־כָּל־פְּנֵֽי־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃ (ז) וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃

(4) Such is the story of heaven and earth when they were created. When the LORD God made earth and heaven— (5) when no shrub of the field was yet on earth and no grasses of the field had yet sprouted, because the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil, (6) but a flow would well up from the ground and water the whole surface of the earth— (7) the LORD God formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.
(יח) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂהּ־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ (יט) וַיִּצֶר֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה כָּל־חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיָּבֵא֙ אֶל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם לִרְא֖וֹת מַה־יִּקְרָא־ל֑וֹ וְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִקְרָא־ל֧וֹ הָֽאָדָ֛ם נֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּ֖ה ה֥וּא שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (כ) וַיִּקְרָ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם שֵׁמ֗וֹת לְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וּלְאָדָ֕ם לֹֽא־מָצָ֥א עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃ (כא) וַיַּפֵּל֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה עַל־הָאָדָ֖ם וַיִּישָׁ֑ן וַיִּקַּ֗ח אַחַת֙ מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יו וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר בָּשָׂ֖ר תַּחְתֶּֽנָּה׃ (כב) וַיִּבֶן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֥ח מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם׃ (כג) וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒ זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקֳחָה־זֹּֽאת׃ (כד) עַל־כֵּן֙ יַֽעֲזָב־אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֑וֹ וְדָבַ֣ק בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר אֶחָֽד׃
(18) The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.” (19) And the LORD God formed out of the earth all the wild beasts and all the birds of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that would be its name. (20) And the man gave names to all the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to all the wild beasts; but for Adam no fitting helper was found. (21) So the LORD God cast a deep sleep upon the man; and, while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that spot. (22) And the LORD God fashioned the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman; and He brought her to the man. (23) Then the man said, “This one at last Is bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Woman, For from man was she taken.” (24) Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh.

ויפל ה' אלהים תרדמה ...והנה לא ברא את האשה מן הרגלים שהוא החלק היותר שפל כדי שלא תהא בעיניו כשפחה ולא בראה מן הראש כדי שלא תהא בעיניה כגברת הבית אבל בראה מן הצלע שבאמצע הגוף לשתהיה בבית כמותו.

רבי יצחק אברבנאל – מגדולי חכמי ספרד במאה ה-15.

ביאור: סיפור הבריאה השני מציג היררכיה ברורה: "אדם" הוא הגבר בלבד, הוא נברא תחילה יחידי. כשמבחין האל בבדידותו של האדם הוא מרדים אותו, נוטל צלע מצלעותיו ובונה ממנה את האישה. האישה מגיעה כ"עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ" רק בשלב מאוחר יותר. לפי מקור זה האישה לא נבראה כבריאה ראשונה- כבעלת צלם אלוהים - ובכך מאפשר קריאה שאינה שוויונית.

בריאת האישה, תבליט, ימי הביניים

- Photo: Steven Zucker http://www.flickr.com/photos/profzuckerזכויות יוצרים שמורות ל© /3210687939

עיון ודיון

1.תארו את הסתירה בין שני סיפורי הבריאה.

2.מדוע, לדעתו של אברבנאל, נבראה האישה דווקא מן הצלע?

3.כיצד פירושו של אברבנאל "מרכך" את המסר של סיפור הבריאה השני בנוגע

למעמדה של האישה?

4. לדעתכם, איזה מסיפורי הבריאה מתאר טוב יותר את מציאות חיינו? נמקו!

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ (בראשית א, כו)...

אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר:

בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, אַנְדְּרוֹגִינוֹס בְּרָאוֹ,

שנאמר: (בראשית ה, ב): זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם.

אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן:

בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, דְּיוּ פַּרְצוּפִים בְּרָאוֹ, וְנִסְּרוֹ וַעֲשָׂאוֹ גַּבִּים, גַּב לְכָאן וְגַב לְכָאן.

אֲתִיבוּן לֵיהּ (הקשו עליו) וְהָכְתִיב (בראשית ב, כא): וַיִּקַּח אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו,

אֲמַר לְהוֹן (אמר להם) מן סטרוי (מהצד) כמו שנאמר: (שמות כו, כ): וּלְצֶלַע הַמִּשְׁכָּן.

Rabbi Simon said, when the Holy One created Man, the angels split into opposing groups, some of which said don't create it and some of which said create, which is why it is written: Mercy and truth met, righteousness and peace kissed.

בראשית רבה: קובץ מדרשי אגדה על ספר בראשית.

נערך במאה ה-5 לספירה (תקופת האמוראים) בארץ ישראל.

מיתיבין/מיתיבי: "משיבים" – העלאת קושי או סתירה על דבריו של אמורא בהתבסס על מקור אחר

(פסוק מקראי או מקור תנאי)

אמר רבי ירמיה בן אלעזר:

דו פרצוף פנים היה לו לאדם הראשון,

שנאמר: (תהלים קלט, ה) אחור וקדם צרתני

to distance the boards from the well and expand the enclosed area by any amount, i.e., as much as one wishes, provided that he increases the number of upright boards between the double posts. Rabbi Yehuda says: The partitioned area may be expanded up to an area of two beit se’a, which is an area of five thousand square cubits. The Rabbis said to him: They only spoke of an area of two beit se’a with regard to a garden or an enclosure used for storing wood, scrap, and the like [karpef]. But if it was a pen [dir], or a stable [sahar], or a backyard, or a courtyard in front of the house, even if it had an area of five beit kor or even ten beit kor, it is permitted. And it is permitted to distance the boards and expand the enclosed area by any amount, provided that one increases the upright boards between the double posts. GEMARA: The Gemara suggests: Let us say that the mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya, as it was taught in a baraita: One may arrange upright boards around a water cistern and ropes around a caravan. Ḥananya disagrees and says: One may set up ropes for a cistern, but not upright boards. The Gemara rejects this suggestion: Even if you say that the mishna was taught in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya, a cistern of collected rain water has a discrete law, as the water will eventually be consumed and the upright boards will become unnecessary; and a well of spring water has a discrete law, as the water is constantly renewed and the upright boards will remain useful. Some say a different version of the previous passage: From the fact that the baraita does not teach: Ḥananya says: One may set up ropes around a water cistern and boards around a well, by inference, according to the opinion of Ḥananya, there is no difference between a cistern and a well. In both cases, ropes are indeed permitted, whereas upright boards are not. Let us say the mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya. The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if you say that the mishna was taught in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya, he was only replying to that which the first tanna had said; since the first tanna had spoken only of a cistern, there was no need for Ḥananya to fully clarify his own position and distinguish between a cistern and a well. The Gemara further suggests: Let us say the mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva. As we learned in a mishna: In each of the cases of a public well, a public cistern, and a private well, one may arrange upright boards for them, but in the case of a private cistern, one must establish a proper partition for it ten handbreadths high; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Whereas here in the mishna it teaches: One may arrange upright boards for a well, from which one may infer that for a well, yes, it is permitted to use posts, but for a cistern, no, it is not permitted. This is opposed to Rabbi Akiva’s opinion, which maintains that posts may be arranged for a public cistern. The Gemara rejects this argument as well: Even if you say that the mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva, the tanna of the mishna teaches the case of a well of spring water, which he can teach in a distinct manner because there is no difference whether it belongs to the public and there is no difference whether it belongs to an individual, as it is always permitted. However, he did not teach the case of a cistern containing collected rain water, which he could not teach in a distinct manner because there is a difference between a public cistern and a private one. However, it cannot be proven from here that he disagrees with Rabbi Akiva. The Gemara further suggests: Let us say the mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, as we learned in a mishna: Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava says: One may only arrange upright boards for a public well, whereas here the mishna states: For wells. The plural term implies that there is no difference if the well belongs to the public, and there is no difference if the well belongs to an individual. The Gemara also rejects this line of reasoning: Even if you say that the mishna is in accordance with Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, to what is the mishna referring when it says wells? It is referring to wells in general, but the tanna means to include only public wells. The mishna had mentioned double posts [deyomadin]: The Gemara asks: What are deyomadin? Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: Two [deyo] posts [amudin], which are put together to create a single corner piece. Having cited Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar’s statement with reference to the prefix deyo, the Gemara cites other statements of his. Two, to one who was ostracized, praise, nourishment, ruin, attribute, three, are mnemonics for the following statements by Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar. We learned there in a mishna: Rabbi Yehuda says: All inferior figs are exempt from being tithed, even if they are of doubtfully tithed produce [demai], as even if the seller is an am ha’aretz, he must certainly have already separated tithes from them, since the loss incurred by tithing is negligible, except for deyufra. The Gemara asks: What is deyufra? Ulla said: A tree that yields two [deyo] harvests of fruit [peirot] each year. Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar also said: Adam was first created with two [deyo] faces, one male and the other female. As it is stated: “You have formed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me” (Psalms 139:5). Similarly, it is written: “And the tzela, which the Lord, God, had taken from the man, He made a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Genesis 2:22). Rav and Shmuel disagree over the meaning of the word tzela: One said: It means a female face, from which God created Eve; and one said: Adam was created with a tail [zanav], which God removed from him and from which He created Eve. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who says that tzela means face; it is understandable that it is written: “You have formed me [tzartani] behind and before.” However, according to the one who says that tzela means tail, what is meant by the verse: “You have formed me [tzartani] behind and before”? The Gemara answers that this verse is to be understood as bearing a moral message, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ami, as Rabbi Ami said: Behind means Adam was created at the end of the act of creation; and before means that he was first for punishment. The Gemara asks: Granted, it is understandable that Adam was behind, or last, in the act of creation, meaning that he was not created until the sixth day, Shabbat eve. However, before, or first, for punishment, what does this mean? If you say that he was punished first because of the curse pronounced in the wake of the sin involving the Tree of Knowledge, there is a difficulty. Wasn’t the snake was cursed first, and afterward Eve was cursed, and only at the end was Adam cursed? Rather, this refers to the punishment of the Flood, as it is written: “And He blotted out every living substance which was upon the face of the ground, both man and cattle, creeping things and fowl of the heaven” (Genesis 7:23). This indicates that the punishment began with man. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was originally a face or side of Adam; it is understandable that it is written: “Then the Lord God formed [vayyitzer] man” (Genesis 2:7). Vayyitzer is written with a double yod, one for Adam and one for Eve. However, according to the one who said that Eve was created from a tail, what is conveyed by spelling vayyitzer with a double yod? The Gemara responds: This is interpreted homiletically, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, as Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said: This comes to emphasize that which one says to himself in every circumstance: Woe unto me from my evil inclination [yetzer] if I perform the will of my Maker, and woe to me from my Maker [Yotzri] if I perform the will of my inclination. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, it is understanable that it is written: “Male and female, He created them, and blessed them, and called their name Man in the day when they were created” (Genesis 5:2), which indicates that from the very beginning of their creation, He fashioned two faces, one for the male and the other for the female. However, according to the one who said that Eve was created from a tail, what is the meaning of the verse: “Male and female, He created them”? The Gemara answers: It can be explained in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Abbahu, as Rabbi Abbahu raised a contradiction between the verses: On the one hand it is written: “Male and female, He created them,” in the plural, and on the other hand it is written: “So God created man in His own image, for in the image of God He created him” (Genesis 1:27), in the singular. At first, the thought entered God’s mind to create two, and ultimately, only one was actually created. The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was a face, it is understandable that it is written: “And He took one of his sides and closed up the flesh in its place” (Genesis 2:21). However, according to the one who said that Eve was created from a tail, what is meant by the verse: “And He closed up the flesh in its place”? Rav Zevid said, and some say it was Rabbi Yirmeya, and some say it was Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak: It was necessary to say that the fleshed closed up only with regard to the place of the incision. The Gemara challenges the other opinion: Granted, according to the one who said that Eve was created from a tail; it is understandable that it is written: “And the Lord God built the tzela” (Genesis 2:22), as it was a completely new building. However, according to the one who said that Eve was a complete face or side, what is the meaning of: “And He built”? What needed to be built? The Gemara responds: This must be interpreted homiletically, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya, as Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya interpreted homiletically the verse: “And the Lord God built the tzela.” This verse teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, braided for Eve her hair, and then brought her to Adam, as in the coastal towns, they call braiding hair building. Alternatively, the verse: “And the Lord God built,” can be understood as a description of Eve’s basic shape, as Rav Ḥisda said, and some say it is taught in a baraita: This verse teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, built Eve like the structure

ביאור: פרקים א' וב' נראים סותרים: על-פי פרק א' האישה והאיש נבראו כאחד, ואילו על-פי פרק ב' האישה נבראה מן האיש לאחר שהוא כבר היה קיים.

רבי ירמיה בן לעזר מתייחס לקושי הלשוני בפרק א' (פסוק כז'): בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ: זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה, בָּרָא אֹתָם: הוא מסביר שבפרק א' נברא אדרוגינוס - מושג המורכב משתי מילים ביוונית: אנדרוס = גבר, גינא = אשה- אדם בעל מערכת רביה כפולה: נקבית וזכרית. (בתלמוד, מביא רבי ירמיה אסמכתא מפסוק אחר, לאותו רעיון).

רבי שמואל בר נחמן אומר: האל ברא בצלמו אדם דו (=כפול) פרצופי, בעל גב אחד: מצד אחד איש ומהצד הנגדי אישה. מכיוון שאדם זה סובל מבדידות, מחליט האל לנסר את האדם לאורכו, והאיש והאישה שהיו צמודים זה לזה, מקבלים כל אחד מהם גוף משל עצמו (היה צריך להוסיף גבים=אחוריים לאחד).

תיאורו של רבי שמואל בר נחמן את בריאת האישה אינו תואם את הנאמר בתורה (בפרק ב'):

"וַיַּפֵּל ה' אֱלֹהִים תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל הָאָדָם וַיִּישָׁן, וַיִּקַּח אַחַת מִצַּלְעֹתָיו וַיִּסְגֹּר בָּשָׂר תַּחְתֶּנָּה".

על פי המקרא כפשוטו, האל לקח אחת מצלעותיו, ולא ניסר אותו לשני "גבים", על קושי זה מצביע המדרש ("מיתיבין ליה"). אם כן, כיצד ניתן ליישב את דבריו של שמואל בר נחמן?

המדרש מסביר שלמילה "צלע" יש משמעות נוספת: צַד, ולפי זה האישה הנבראת היא אחד מצדדיו של האדם. ואותה לקיחה היא הנסירה.

לסיכום: על פי המדרש, סיפור הבריאה בפרק א' מספר על בריאתו של יצור אחד – האנדרוגינוס, ואילו סיפור בריאתה של האישה בפרק ב', מתאר כיצד הופרדה מאותו אנדרוגינוס.

עיון ודיון

1.הסבירו את דבריו של רבי ירמיה בן אלעזר.

2.מהו הקושי שמעלה המדרש על דבריו של רבי שמואל בר נחמן?

3.כיצד מיישב המדרש את הקושי זה?

4.על פי המדרש: כיצד ניתן ליישב את הסתירה בין שני סיפורי הבריאה?

אנדרוגינוס. פרט מעיטור כד יווני עתיק - http://textologia.net/?p=2745

פותחים סוגריים

אפלטון - "המשתה"

אפלטון, מגדולי הפילוסופים, חי ביוון במאה הרביעית לפני הספירה.

הדיאלוג "המשתה" נכתב בשנת 416 לפני הספירה . השפעתו על תרבות אירופה הייתה עצומה, בעיקר ברעיון שהאהבה היא חוויה נעלה, המטהרת את הנפש ומרחיבה את גבולותיו הצרים של הקיום האנושי.

עלילת הדיאלוג מתרחשת בביתו של אגאתון המחזאי, שהזמין את חבריו למשתה כדי לשמוח בשמחתו.

במהלך המשתה מתקיימת תחרות נאומים בשבחו של אֵרוֹס, אל האהבה והתשוקה המינית.

נאומו של אריסטופאנס, אחד האורחים, מתאר סיפור שמקורו במיתולוגיה היוונית על מקורה של האהבה:

בני האדם הקדמונים היו יצורים מיוחדים: כל "אדם" שכזה היה מורכב משני גופים: שני פרצופים, ארבע ידיים, ארבע רגליים וכו'. בתחילה היו שלושה מינים שלהם: כאלה עם שני גופים של גברים, כאלה המורכבים משתי נשים, ומין שלישי המורכב מגבר ואישה. הסוג האחרון הוא "אנדרוגינוס" (אנדרו=גבר, גינא=אישה).

בשל החיבור ביניהם, היו בני-האדם חזקים ומוצלחים מאוד וניסו להתמרד כנגד האלים. כעונש, האלים חצו ופיצלו כל אחד מהם לשניים, מה שהותיר כל אחד מהם כחצי חלש המתגעגע וכמהּ לחצי האבוד שלו, משתוקק אליו ומחפש אחריו כדי להתאחד עמו שוב.

פותחים סוגריים

רש"ר הירש - בראשית פרק ב'

רבי שמשון רפאל הירש- ממנהיגיה של יהדות גרמניה במאה ה- 19. דגל בשילוב בין "קודש וחול": אורח חיים דתי קפדני המתנגד לכל רפורמה ביהדות, יחד עם לימודים כלליים והשתלבות תרבותית בחברה הגרמנית. סיסמתו: "תורה עם דרך ארץ". תרגם לגרמנית את התורה והוסיף לה ביאור.

פסוק י"ח

בריאת האשה - כבריאת האדם בשעתו: כדרך שהעולם המתין וציפה להשלמתו - עד שה' הודיעו על נזר הבריאה, כן הדבר גם כאן, בבריאת האשה. הנה האדם כבר נברא; מסביבו פרח גן עדן ביופיו; ואף על פי כן לא אמר ה' "כי טוב!" אין הוא אומר: "לא טוב לאדם היותו לבדו", אלא: "לא טוב היות האדם לבדו": כל עוד האדם לבדו, עדיין העולם שרוי בלא טוב. תכלית השלמות, שהארץ תשיג בזכותו, לא תושג בשלמות, כל עוד הוא לבדו. השלמת הטוב היא האשה, ולא האיש; ורק משנברא האשה הושלם הטוב - לאדם וליקום כולו. וכך הורו רבותינו: אין אדם נקרא "אדם" אלא בזכות אשתו; ורק שניהם כאחד קרויים "אדם" (יבמות סג ע"א). התפקיד הוא רב מכוחו של אחד, ויש צורך לחלקו לשנים. משום כך נתווספה האשה אל האיש, למען ימלאו בשלמות את ייעוד האדם. ואשה זו תהא "עזר כנגדו". גם מבט שטחי יגלה, שביטוי זה מביע את כל כבוד האשה. אין כאן כל רמז ליחס מיני. האשה העמדה בתחום פעילות האיש; שם היא חסרה, ושם תהא "עזר כנגדו". ו"עזר כנגדו" איננו מביע שעבוד, אלא שויון גמור ועצמאות שוה. האשה היא "כנגדו", לצדו של האיש, מקבילה לו, בשורה אחת:

... האשה נוטלת חלק מן החובות, הכלולות בתפקיד האדם; כך יוכל האיש למלא ביתר שלמות את החובות שעדיין נותרו לו. אך לשם כך יש צורך, שה"עזר" יהא "כנגדו" - לא "עמו": אל יפעל עמו במקום אחד, אלא יפעל כנגדו במקום אחר, בשורה אחת ממולו. אילו היה העזר נוצר בדמות איש, היו מוטלות עליו כל חובות האיש, ואף הוא היה זקוק ל"עזר". משום כך הוא נוצר כאשה; האשה עומדת בצד האיש, לא עמו ולא תחתיו; היא פועלת "כנגדו", בשורה אחת ובנקודה אחרת. כל אחד יפעל בתחום המיוחד לו, וכך ישלימו זה את זו.

פסוק כ"ד

... מכאן ההבדל העמוק בין חיי המין של שאר היצורים לבין חיי הנישואין של האדם. גם שאר בעלי החיים חלוקים בין זכר לנקבה. אך שני המינים יצאו מן האדמה בנפרד, אין הם זקוקים זה לזה - למילוי ייעוד חייהם. הם מוצאים זה את זו רק לצורך הזיווג ורק לשיעור הזמן הדרוש לו. לא כן הדבר באדם: האשה היא חלק מן האיש, "עזר כנגדו", האיש הוא חסר ישע ונטול עצמאות, אם אין אשתו עמו. רק שניהם כאחד קרויים "אדם".

החיים על כל משמעותם דורשים את חיבורם זה עם זו. רק באדם הוא אומר: "ודבק באשתו". רק האדם זכה לחיי נישואין...