Bereishit & Sukkot

by Rabbi Sholem B. Hecht

The Ultimate Unity

The Torah tell’s us that Hashem brought all of the various animals before Adam asking him to give them names and Adam named them according to his wisdom and understanding. And then Adam said, “Now that I have seen all of these animals come before me, in their male and female form, I realize now that I too need a female counterpart in order to be able to reach my own fulfillment in this world”.

Thereafter, Hashem created Chave and brought her to Adam. And at that point Adam says, "This time, this individual is a bone from my bone, flesh from my flesh, and I will call her woman, because she is taken from man". Then the Torah goes on to say that Adam and Chave understood that their destiny was to unite and to function together and they became as one.

Every Jewish husband and wife and every Jewish couple has to realize that their goal in life is to work together to attain a level of unity and oneness and to bring love, understanding and mutual appreciation into their lives, then as a unit they will be able to fulfill their destiny in the world and the purpose for which G-d created them. For this reason, it is imperative that husband and wife understand that they come from the same source and they really are part of the same entity.

The question arises why did Adam, say "Hapaam - This time”, there were no other times! It wasn't as if he tried several times to see who or what would be his mate. It was only the one time that G-d brought Chave to him as a mate and it was then that he realized that she was his true soul mate and help mate. Why does the Torah say "Hapaam"?

Perhaps the answer is that when Adam saw that G-d created Chave from his own being, He said, “Ah, in my case it's very easy for me to realize how my wife and I will become one unity, because we really are one unity, he went on to verbalize "This time, my bone, my flesh," therefore, I have no problem coming to unity and understanding and appreciation of my wife and working together with her.

For the sake of future generations which will not have the experience of seeing their wive's created as part of themselves, "Lezos Yikorei Isha, Ki MaIsh Yikocho Zos - and this you shall call Woman…for from Man she was taken”. The name itself will indicate that she was created from man.

Therefore, in future generations man will remember and realize that his wife is called Isha because she's truly a part of him and their soul in fact was once united and each was created separately, when they come together as husband and wife they become one and reach that unity with which they are able to accomplish their goal in life, and to bring about the fulfillment of what it is they have to accomplish in this world. With unity, love and mutual respect and appreciation.

Establishing Priorities – A Story

There is a story told about a town in Europe, where the Rebbe of the town showed a great measure of love and care for his disciples, and for the other citizens of the town. It was a time when assimilation was beginning to spread its roots in Europe and many people were influenced by the winds of modernity in the way they dressed and the way they conducted themselves in their businesses. There was a person in town, who was careful always to attend Synagogue on a regular basis and to keep up the traditional customs, wear the traditional garments, and follow in the traditional ways of the community. However, every few weeks, because of his business he would travel to the big city and engage in bringing merchandise back to the small town where he lived in order to earn a living for himself and for other business associates that he represented. On such occasions, when he traveled to the big town, he changed his clothing, he took off the traditional Jewish garments and put on a modern suit and tie, modern hat, modern shoes and went to the big city to do his business. When he came back to his hometown, he was careful to put away these modern garments and to dress himself once again in the garb of his community. This went on for years. Then one day under the influence of his modernizing friends, he thought to himself, “who am I fooling? Why should I dress in my old style clothing when I come back to my town? Why am I being a hypocrite! Instead I will wear the modern, Western style clothing, even when I am back home in my own town.”

That Shabbos he came into the Synagogue, and during the services, he went over to his regular place to pray. When his Rebbi saw him, he called the Gabbai of the Synagogue and directed him to throw him out of the Shul. The next day, he came to the Rebbe and protested his innocence saying, “certainly you knew that whenever I went to the big city I would put on the Western style clothing, why is it that when I felt hypocritical and I decided to be honest with myself that you attack me in such a manner? The Rebbe answered him: “Yes, I knew all along that when you went to the city for business you put on Western style clothing, however, it was my understanding all along that really your essence is here, but once in a while you have to go over there. However, now it has occurred to me that in your case really your essence is there and it is only once in a while that you come back here”.

When we speak of one’s essence, the innermost desires and feelings of a person, we know that they must be completely devoted to the Al-mighty. If and when we follow this theme, then we will have the strength to carry on our commitment to our families and to ourselves, as well as to carry out the requirements that the Torah places upon us