The Etz Chaim Minyan What is the Etz Chaim (the Tree of Life)?

Our Torah, the sourcebook of our sacred myths, stories and narratives, describes the creation of the first human being (the 'Adam'). Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden and is then confronted with some confusing trees. Let's explore how this compelling ancient sacred narrative might be relevant for us today....

בראשית ב׳:ז׳-ט׳

(ז) וַיִּיצֶר֩ ה' אֱלֹקִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃ (ח) וַיִּטַּ֞ע ה' אֱלֹקִ֛ים גַּן־בְעֵ֖דֶן מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיָּ֣שֶׂם שָׁ֔ם אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצָֽר׃ (ט) וַיַּצְמַ֞ח ה' אֱלֹקִים֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה כָּל־עֵ֛ץ נֶחְמָ֥ד לְמַרְאֶ֖ה וְט֣וֹב לְמַאֲכָ֑ל וְעֵ֤ץ הַֽחַיִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַגָּ֔ן וְעֵ֕ץ הַדַּ֖עַת ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

Genesis 2:7-9

(7) the Source of Life formed the Adam from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the Adam became a living being. (8) The Source of Life planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the Adam whom He had formed. (9) And from the ground the Source of Life caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food, with the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad.

What is the Tree of Life? Why is it created? Where is it created? What is its relationship with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad?

בראשית ב׳:ט״ו-י״ז

(טו) וַיִּקַּ֛ח ה' אֱלֹקִ֖ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּנִּחֵ֣הוּ בְגַן־עֵ֔דֶן לְעָבְדָ֖הּ וּלְשָׁמְרָֽהּ׃ (טז) וַיְצַו֙ ה' אֱלֹקִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃ (יז) וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃

Genesis 2:15-17

(15) The Source of Life took the Adam and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it. (16) And the Source of Life commanded the Adam, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; (17) but as for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.”

What will happen to Adam if s/he eats from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad? Why?

בראשית ג׳:כ״ב-כ״ד

(כב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ ה' אֱלֹקִ֗ים הֵ֤ן הָֽאָדָם֙ הָיָה֙ כְּאַחַ֣ד מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לָדַ֖עַת ט֣וֹב וָרָ֑ע וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ פֶּן־יִשְׁלַ֣ח יָד֗וֹ וְלָקַח֙ גַּ֚ם מֵעֵ֣ץ הַֽחַיִּ֔ים וְאָכַ֖ל וָחַ֥י לְעֹלָֽם׃ (כג) וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֛הוּ ה' אֱלֹקִ֖ים מִגַּן־עֵ֑דֶן לַֽעֲבֹד֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֻקַּ֖ח מִשָּֽׁם׃ (כד) וַיְגָ֖רֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֑ם וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ מִקֶּ֨דֶם לְגַן־עֵ֜דֶן אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים וְאֵ֨ת לַ֤הַט הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ הַמִּתְהַפֶּ֔כֶת לִשְׁמֹ֕ר אֶת־דֶּ֖רֶךְ עֵ֥ץ הַֽחַיִּֽים׃ (ס)

Genesis 3:22-24

(22) And the Source of Life said, “Now that the Adam has become like one of us, knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the Tree of Life and eat, and live forever!” (23) So the Source of Life banished Adam from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he was taken. (24) He drove the Adam out, and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the Way of the Tree of Life.

What is the fear expressed about the Adam having eaten from the Tree of Life?
What is the 'way of the Tree of Life'? Why does it have to be guarded?

משלי ג׳:י״ג-י״ח

(יג) אַשְׁרֵ֣י אָ֭דָם מָצָ֣א חָכְמָ֑ה וְ֝אָדָ֗ם יָפִ֥יק תְּבוּנָֽה׃ (יד) כִּ֤י ט֣וֹב סַ֭חְרָהּ מִסְּחַר־כָּ֑סֶף וּ֝מֵחָר֗וּץ תְּבוּאָתָֽהּ׃ (טו) יְקָ֣רָה הִ֭יא מפניים [מִפְּנִינִ֑ים] וְכָל־חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִֽשְׁווּ־בָֽהּ׃ (טז) אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים בִּֽימִינָ֑הּ בִּ֝שְׂמֹאולָ֗הּ עֹ֣שֶׁר וְכָבֽוֹד׃ (יז) דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹ֑עַם וְֽכָל־נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (יח) עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃ (פ)

Proverbs 3:13-18

(13) Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who attains understanding. (14) Her value in trade is better than silver, Her yield, greater than gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies; All of your goods cannot equal her. (16) In her right hand is length of days, In her left, riches and honor. (17) Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths, peaceful. (18) She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, And whoever holds on to her is happy.

What do you think is the subject of verses 17 and 18?
Do you recognise these verses?