Parashat Bereishit: A Man's Greatest Gift

This week, as we begin the reading of the Torah again with Parshas Bereishis, we have a new opportunity to look at the lessons that the Ribono Shel Olam wants to teach us in His Torah.

One of the focal points in the Parshah is the very first sin ever committed. As soon as Adam and Chavah were created and allowed entry into Gan Eden, they were given the commandment to refrain from eating from the Eitz ha’Da’as. They failed to observe that commandment, and until today all of mankind is suffering from the ramifications of that transgression. What caused them to do it? Having just been created, with an awesome awareness of the Creator that we cannot fathom, why did they sin?

The Torah relates that it was the nachash, the snake, that provoked them to sin. The punishment the snake received was that for the rest of its life and the life of all of its descendants, the snake would be destined to eat from the dust of the earth. Can you imagine being condemned to a lifetime of having nothing to eat but tasteless, dirty food? What a terrible curse!

On second thought, was this really such a bad thing? Perhaps it was not such a terrible punishment after all. Although the snake’s food would be unvaried and tasteless, the snake has a great benefit in that its sustenance is readily available for it at all times. The snake is guaranteed a lifetime of food at its disposal without having to worry or work hard for it. The snake will never go hungry! What type of curse is this?

Rav Shmuel Alter zt”l, in Lekutei Basar Lekutei, explains that the curse of the snake was in fact a terrible curse, since it denied the snake the most precious gift, the invaluable ability of having a relationship with the Ribono Shel Olam. By having its sustenance provided to it and constantly available at all times, the snake never had to turn to Hashem. The snake would always have what it needed and would have no need to ask anything from its Creator. This was the worst possible curse for anyone or anything to receive. It was like the Ribono Shel Olam turned to the snake and said, “Here, take your food and never speak to Me again.”

A number of years ago I was renting an apartment in Yerushalayim. One morning before the rent was due, I received a phone call from the landlord asking me to pay the rent. He did the same every month until I realized that it would be easier for me to pay him three months’ rent up front, and then I wouldn’t need to hear from him for a few months.

That is not what the Ribono Shel Olam wants from us. Hashem gives us a life full of challenges, specifically so that we will constantly feel the need to ask Him for His help and thereby form a relationship with Him which deepens each time we turn to Him. He gives us trials and tribulations so that we will talk to Him.

The curse that Hashem gave the snake was indeed the worst form of curse. The loss of a relationship with its Creator far outweighed the convenience of having its sustenance provided at all times. Although undergoing challenges is tremendously difficult and oftentimes painful, when we look back at those times and see how much closer we grew to Hashem, and what we gained by turning to Him and subsequently relying and trusting in Him, we realize that the challenges were not in vain.

Let us utilize this special gift we have and reap all of the benefits from the unique closeness we develop through turning to Hashem for all our needs.