Rabbi Eryn London
Class of 2017
This week we begin the Torah reading cycle. Here we are at the very beginning, at Berashit. God creates the world, almost destroys the world, and at the very end, we learn about humans learning to create themselves.
The rabbis say that Adam sinned within the first day of his creation. Which means that on the sixth day Adam was created, Eve was taken from his rib, Eve had two sons, and they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. Not only were they banished from the Garden of Eden, but there were numerous punishments given to both Adam and Eve: they must work the earth, birth with be difficult, life will be more difficult than it would have been if they were able to stay in Eden.
Not long after leaving Eden, we read about Cain killing Abel, out of jealousy; feeling like God loved Abel more than himself. Instead of trying to find ways to better himself or how to talk to his brother, he kills him. After committing the first act of murder, he tries to hide his action from God. Cain is then punished to wander the earth with a mark showing the world that he is the father of murder.
Interestingly, at the end of the Parsha Cain is able to find solace. He finds a place that accepts him. He settles down and he even has children. Through Cain’s children we have the creation of music and working with heavy metals. Humankind found a way to create, not only to destroy.
May we all be blessed to find moments of creation, even during times of destruction.
