YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Bereshit
Throughout Tanach, including our parasha, tov appears as an antonym and direct contrast to rah. For example, the full name of the etz hada’at is "the tree of knowledge of tov and rah" (ibid. 17). Rah can be translated as either bad, a broad term applying to many levels and contexts of undesirability, or evil, referring to a low level of morality.
So, lo tov can mean bad or it can mean evil. In theory, it can also include average situations. If we rate on a scale of 1 to 10, and good is from 7 and up and bad is from 3 down, then 4-6 is "not good," but it is also "not bad." So how do we describe the lo tov situation of man without wife? Evil? No. Bad? Maybe, but why would Hashem create such an important creation as man, in a bad way? Average? Maybe, but this is intuitively unappealing.
Perhaps the answer emerges from an interesting phenomenon in the Torah’s portrayal of Creation. Famously, every major stage of creation is summarized, as "Hashem saw that it was tov." This statement usually appears once a day, but does not appear on Day 2 and appears twice on Day 3. On Day 6, creation of animals is described as "tov" (ibid.1:25) and the entire creation as a whole is rated "very tov" (1:31). In between these two tovs, the five p’sukim on creation of man is not "crowned" with a tov. Why not?
Perhaps this is what the Torah means with "lo tov" before Chava’s creation. It was not evil, or bad, or average. However, it was lacking the expected tov of creations. As the creation of the second day waited for completion on the third day, so did Adam need to wait for Chava to become a complete creation (see Yevamot 62b).
Hashem decided that man should be created and recognize himself as incomplete before receiving his completion. This phenomenon repeats itself regularly when a baby Jewish boy is born in a way that requires him to be completed by a brit (see Tanchuma, Tazria 7). We can suggest that since as soon as Chava was created there was completion, when a baby girl is born there is no need to seek completion with a brit or the like.
If tov, as opposed to lack thereof, is connected to being complete, we add appreciation for Chazal’s comment that Moshe was born circumcised and that this is learned from the fact he was described as born tov (see Shemot 2:2; Avot D’Rabbi Natan 2). The fact that males have two hashlamot – brit and a wife – explains more things. A brit includes preparing the boy to eventually live a married life in sanctity. Also, already at the brit, we look ahead to his completion: "Just as he entered the brit, so may he enter Torah, chupa, and ma’asim tovim." Torah is called tov (Mishlei 4:2) and completes a person; finding a wife is called "matza tov" (ibid. 18:22); after these two, a man is ready for ma’asim tovim.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.