OCTOBER 16-17, 2009
THE PARSHA PAGE
Blame Game- Samuel Thompson
Parsha Points
» God created the world in 6
days and ceased to work on
the 7th day
» Human beings are created
from the dust of the earth and
"according to God's image"
» Adam and Eve are placed
in the Garden of Eden and
commanded not to eat from
the "Tree of the Knowledge of
Good and Evil"
» The Serpent convinces Eve
to eat a fruit from the tree,
and she shares that fruit with
Adam. As a result, they are
expelled from the Garden.
» Eve gives birth to two sons,
Cain and Abel.
» Cain murders Abel and has
to wander for eternity.
» Eve gives birth to Seth,
who's tenth generation
descendant is Noah
A publication of Hillel at Brandeis
Editors: Chaya Bender, Brian Blumenthal
Contributors: Eliana Light, Jason Henry Simon-Birenbaum, Samuel Thompson
BERESHIT
SOME LIGHT TORAH ~ The Fatal Flaw: Bad Communication- Eliana Light
You may be familiar with in fact, what G-d says. The front of the blind." When we
the horror story—snake original prohibition is just pass on incorrect information,
dupes girl, girl eats fruit, guy against eating the fruit. But we are doing just that. It may
eats fruit, G-d gets mad. But perhaps, in an effort to widen seem inconsequential, but
with good communication, the fence, so to speak, Adam exaggerating election results,
the whole scenario could tells Havah not to touch it at personal anecdotes, or facts
have been avoided. When the all! This added strictness may may result in rumors or false
snake tries to lure Havah (Eve’s have caused Havah to stray, assumptions that can have
Hebrew name) into eating the just as strict parents cause a dire consequences. Be careful
fruit, she declares that G-d child to act out. If this is the about what you say, because
said, “You shall not eat of it case, then Adam’s few extra your words may become
or touch it, lest you die.” Now words cost him everything. as fatal as eating from a
if you flip back a few verses, We are taught in Vayikra not forbidden tree.
you will notice that this is not, to "put a stumbling block in
•
About the Author My name is Eliana Light ('12) and I love Torah. Talking Torah, reading Torah, living
Torah, you name it! I’ve been given the wonderful opportunity to share a short dvar Torah
with you every Shabbat, and I thank you for reading my debut! My goal is to show that the Torah is not an archaic
document, but a living breathing thing and has profound lessons to teach us about how to be better people and live
life to the fullest. It offers insight not only into our past, but our into our present and future. As Rabbi Ben Bag Bag
said in Pirkei Avot (the ethics of the ancestors) “Turn it and turn it again, for everything is in it.” You will certainly
find something that speaks to you. I hope this is the beginning of a meaningful conversation and ongoing dialogue
between you and I, and you and Torah. Have a wonderful Shabbat!
‫כ״ט תשרי תש״ע‬
‫בראשית‬