- According to this text, all humans are descendants of Adam- the first human and more important that human was created "B'tzelem Elohim" in the image of God. Why do you think our story starts with the creation of one/two human beings?
- What are the implications for our world today?
The mishna teaches: Therefore, Adam the first man was created alone. The Sages taught in a baraita: Adam was created alone, and for what reason? So that the heretics will not say: There are many authorities in Heaven, and each created a different person. Alternatively, Adam was created alone due to the righteous and due to the wicked. It was so that the righteous will not say: We are the children of the righteous, and righteousness is natural for us, so there is no need for us to exert ourselves to be righteous, and so that the wicked will not say: We are the children of the wicked and cannot change our ways.
The baraita continues: Alternatively, he was created alone due to the families, so that the families will not quarrel with each other, each one boasting of the heritage of their progenitor. And if now that Adam was created alone, families still quarrel and each family claims superiority, if there were two people created initially, all the more so would they do this. Alternatively, he was created alone due to the robbers and due to those who take by force that which is not theirs, as the feeling of fraternity among all people, having descended from the same forefather, will limit crime. And if now that Adam was created alone, criminals still rob and take by force that which is not theirs, if there were two people created initially, all the more so would this be the case.
- The rabbis predicted that humanity would struggle with issues of superiority. How do you understand their warnings in light of today?
- In what ways are people of color being "robbed" today?
מסכתות קטנות מסכת דרך ארץ פרק שלום
תמן תנינא רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר על שלשה דברים העולם עומד על הדין ועל האמת ועל השלום. אמר ר' מונא ושלשתן דבר אחד הם נעשההדין נעשה אמת נעשה שלום, ושלשתן בפסוק אחד נאמרו, שנאמר אמת ומשפט שלום שפטו בשעריכם, כל מקום שיש משפט יש שלום, וכל מקוםשיש שלום יש משפט.
Masechtot Ktanot, Masechet Derekh Eretz
There is was taught:
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that the world stands on three things: On justice, on truth, and on peace.
Rabbi Muna said: Those three are really one thing! If justice is served, truth is served, and peace will be made. [The proof is that] all three are mentioned in one verse, where it is written, "You shall judge truth and a judgment of peace in your dwellings." (Zach 8:16). In any place that there is peace, there will be justice.
- We have all heard the chant... "No Justice, No peace!" This commentary supports the same notion. How does this text deepen your understanding of that chant now?
- How can we better ally with people of color to bring about more justice and more peace?
כׇּל מִי שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לִמְחוֹת לְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ וְלֹא מִיחָה — נִתְפָּס עַל אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ. בְּאַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ — נִתְפָּס עַל אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ. בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ — נִתְפָּס עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ.
Anyone who had the capability to effectively protest the sinful conduct of the members of his household and did not protest, he himself is apprehended for the sins of the members of his household and punished. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the people of his town, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the people of his town. If he is in a position to protest the sinful conduct of the whole world, and he fails to do so, he is apprehended for the sins of the whole world.
Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods.
Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor, protest the sinful conduct you see and let your prayer remind you that you are supposed to act! How can the pursuit of justice be both challenging but also cathartic?