Genesis Rabbah, 4:6
בראשית רבה (וילנא) פרשת בראשית פרשה ד:ו
ויעש אלהים את הרקיע, למה אין כתיב בשני כי טוב, רבי יוחנן תני לה בשם רבי יוסי ב"ר חלפתא שבו נבראת גיהנם, ...רבי חנינא אומר שבו נבראת מחלוקת, שנאמר ויהי מבדיל בין מים למים, א"ר טביומי אם מחלוקת שהיא לתקונו של עולם ולישובו אין בה כי טוב, מחלוקת שהיא לערבובו על אחת כמה וכמה
“And God made the expanse, and it separated the water that was below the expanse from the water that was above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse ‘sky.’ And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” (Genesis 1:7-8) Why is it that “it was good” is not written in connection with the second day? Rabbi Yochanan said, and it was also taught in the name of Rabbi Yosi ben R. Halafta, “Because on that day, Gehinnom [a source of punishment in the afterlife] was created.”. . .Rabbi Chanina said, “Because on that day, a schism was created, as it is written, “let it divide the waters.” R. Tavyomi said, “If because of a division made l’taken olam and to stabilize it, ‘it was good’ is not written in connection with that day, how much more so should this apply to a schism that leads to the confusion of the world. [Translation by Rabbi Jill Jacobs]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What are the two proposed reasons that it does not say “it was good” after the second day of creation? How are they different? What do they both have in common?

2. What does this text teach us about the nature of schisms? Are they ever a good thing?

Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)