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Adam was the first human being, created on the sixth day of creation. He and his counterpart Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge. He was the father of all humanity.
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The Birth of Humanity
TANAKH
The creation of Adam from the soil and the divine breath of life transformed him into a living being, marking the beginning of humanity. The Torah’s account of creation in Genesis details how God formed the first human from the soil and gave him life by breathing into his nostrils.
The Supernatural Offspring of Adam
MIDRASH
Midrashim explore the fascinating and lesser-known descendants of Adam and Lilith, including supernatural offspring with extraordinary abilities. Louis Ginzberg's 'Legends of the Jews' offers a rich tapestry of Jewish folklore, blending traditional texts with imaginative storytelling.
Retrieving the Divine Sparks
CHASIDUT
Adam's sin scattered sparks of holiness throughout the world, and it is our mission to retrieve them. The Ba'al Shem Tov, the 18th-century founder of Chasidic Judaism, teaches that each person is destined to inhabit specific places to reclaim these divine sparks.
Restoring Adam's Original Attributes
MUSAR
The restoration of Adam's original attributes and the transformation of the natural world are central themes in Jewish eschatological beliefs. In the early 17th-century work Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz explores the spiritual restoration and transformation that will occur in the messianic era.
Adam and the Offerings of the Princes
MIDRASH
The symbolic and numerical connections between Adam and various elements in the Torah reveal deeper layers of meaning in Jewish tradition. The eleventh- or twelfth-century midrash Bamidbar Rabbah offers homiletic interpretations of the Book of Numbers, including the significance of the offerings made by the tribal leaders during the dedication of the Tabernacle.
The Miraculous Burial in the Cave of Machpelah
COMMENTARY
The burial of Adam and Eve in the Cave of Machpelah is a fascinating narrative that includes miraculous elements and historical significance. Jacob ben Asher, a prominent medieval Jewish scholar, provides a detailed account of this event, highlighting the cave's importance as a burial site for key biblical figures.
Adam's Prophetic Vision
MIDRASH
Adam was granted a prophetic vision of the future righteous individuals who would descend from him, bringing him peace and prompting a song of praise. The Midrash Tanchuma Buber, a collection of homiletic teachings on the Torah, reflects on Adam's significance and the continuity of righteousness through his descendants.
Purification and Resurrection
JEWISH THOUGHT
The sin of Adam introduced a pollution that affects both body and soul, necessitating their purification and resurrection. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, an 18th-century Jewish thinker, explores the Jewish belief in resurrection and the purification process in his 'Essay on Fundamentals'.
Adam's Naming Mastery
COMMENTARY
Adam's intelligence is showcased through his role in naming all creatures and even God, highlighting the significance of the names he chose. Tze'enah Ure'enah, a16th-century Yiddish commentary, makes Jewish texts accessible to a broader audience by blending biblical texts with rabbinic teachings.
Adam and the Noahide Laws
TALMUD
The Noahide mitzvot, fundamental laws for all humanity, are derived from the commandment given to Adam in the Garden of Eden. The talmudic tractate Sanhedrin interprets each phrase of the commandment in Genesis 2:16-17 to correspond to specific universal laws.
The Distinction of Labor
TARGUM
The act of labor and the consumption of the fruits of the earth distinguish humans from animals. The Targum Jerusalem, an early Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, offers a unique perspective on the biblical narrative of Adam.
Adam's Repentance and Divine Mercy
KABBALAH
Adam's repentance on Rosh Hashanah set a precedent for future generations, showing that sincere repentance can lead to divine compassion and forgiveness. The Zohar, a central work of Jewish mysticism, explores themes of repentance and divine mercy, particularly relevant during the High Holy Days.
The Infinite Worth of a Single Life
HALAKHAH
The creation of a single human being, Adam, underscores the idea that saving or destroying a single soul is equivalent to saving or destroying an entire world. The talmudic passage from Sanhedrin 37a emphasizes the supreme value of human life, teaching that the obligation to preserve it overrides almost all other religious commandments.
The First Commandment and Its Consequence
SECOND TEMPLE
God's direct command to Adam and the immediate consequence of disobedience highlight the gravity of the first sin. Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, offers a unique blend of Jewish theology and Greek philosophy in his interpretation of the Genesis narrative.
 Birds in the Garden of Eden, England, circa 1320-1330. From the British Library archive
Birds in the Garden of Eden, England, circa 1320-1330. From the British Library archive
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