Bereshit B: Chapter 59

"And the man knew"

Synopsis

The path we choose for ourselves is the path that is automatically laid out for our children. This secret is found within the story of Cain murdering his brother Abel. Cain's father, Adam, chose the spiritual path of good and evil. Cain followed in his father's footsteps, becoming vulnerable to the Evil Inclinations that are inherent in this reality. By scanning these passages, we become always mindful of our children when making choices in life, and we draw positive spiritual influences into the lives of our children.

Adam Chayah Earth Eve Torah

324. "And the man knew Eve his wife" (Beresheet 4:1). Rabbi Aba opened his discourse with, "Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upwards and the spirit of the beast goes downwards to the earth?" (Kohelet 3:21). This verse has many interpretations, and so it is with the words of Torah. Each and every word has many interpretations, and all are true.

324. וְהָאָדָם יָדַע אֶת חַוָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ וגו'. רַבִּי אַבָּא פָּתַח מִי יוֹדֵעַ רוּחַ בְּנֵי הָאָדָם הָעוֹלָה הִיא לְמַעְלָה וְרוּחַ הַבְּהֵמָה הַיּוֹרֶדֶת הִיא לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. הַאי קְרָא, כַּמָּה גְוָונִין אִית בֵּיהּ, וְהָכֵי הוּא כָּל מִלּוֹי דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, כַּמָּה גְוָונִין בְּכָל חַד וְחַד, וְכָלְהוֹ יָאוּת.

Directions Head Seven Ten Torah Zeir Anpin

325. The entire Torah can be interpreted in seventy different ways, corresponding to the seventy sides and seventy aspects OF ZEIR ANPIN. So, each topic in the Torah, and whatever is derived from each topic, has many interpretations, explained in all directions.

325. וְהָכֵי אִינוּן, וְכָל אוֹרַיְיתָא מִתְפָּרְשָׁא בְּשַׁבְעִין אַנְפִּין, לָקֳבֵיל שַׁבְעִין סִטְרִין, וְשַׁבְעִין אַנְפִּין, וְהָכֵי הוּא בְּכָל מִלָּה וּמִלָּה דְאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְכָל מַאי דְּנָפֵיק מִכָּל מִלָּה וּמִלָּה, כַּמָּה גְוָונִין אִתְפַּרְשָׁן מִנֵּיהּ לְכָל סִטְרִין.

326. Come and behold: When a man follows the path of truth, he keeps to the right and only attracts to himself a holy spirit from above. This spirit serves him as a holy desire to unite with the upper and to cleave to the supernal sanctity, so that it will never leave him.

326. תָּא חֲזֵי כַּד ב"נ אָזִיל בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, הוּא אָזֵיל לִימִינָא, וְאַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ, רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה מֵעֵילָא. וְהַאי רוּחַ סָלִיק בִּרְעוּתָא קַדִּישָׁא, לְאִתְאַחֲדָא לְעֵילָא, וּלְאִתְדַבְּקָא בִּקְדוּשָׁה עִלָּאָה, דְּלָא אִתְעַדֵּי מִנֵּיהּ.

Evil

327. However, when man walks on a path of evil and veers off the RIGHT path, he draws upon himself from the left side a spirit of uncleanliness. This spirit defiles him, and he becomes unclean because of it. Hence, it is written: "And you shall not make yourselves unclean with them nor be defiled by them" (Vayikra 11:43), because he who defiles himself is led further into defilement.

327. וְכַד בַּר נָשׁ אָזִיל בְּאוֹרַח בִּישׁ, וְסָטֵי אוֹרְחוֹי, הוּא אַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֳבָא דְּלִסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְסָאִיב לֵיהּ, וְאִסְתָּאַב בֵּיהּ, כד"א וְלֹא תִטַּמְאוּ בָּהֶם וְנִטְמֵתֶם בָּם. אָתָא לְאִסְתָּאֲבָא מְסָאֲבִין לֵיהּ.

Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness)

328. Furthermore, come and behold: When a man walks along the path of truth and attracts a spirit of holiness from above to himself and cleaves to it, he also draws a spirit of Holiness from above to the son that is born to him. He will be sanctified with his Master's holiness, as it is written: "you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy" (Ibid. 44).

328. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּבַר נָשׁ אָזִיל בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, וְאַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחָא קַדִּישָׁא עִלָּאָה וְאִתְדַבֵּיק בֵּיהּ, בְּרָא דְיוֹלִיד וְיִפּוֹק מִנֵּיהּ לְעָלְמָא, הוּא מָשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ קְדוּשָׁה עִלָּאָה, וִיהֵא קַדִּישׁ בִּקְדוּשָׁה דְמָארֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים וגו'.

Evil

329. And when a man follows the left side and draws upon himself a spirit of corruption and cleaves to it, he draws that spirit of uncleanliness to his son, and his son is defiled by that side.

329. וְכַד אִיהוּ אָזֵיל בִּסְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, וְאַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא, וְאִתְדְּבַק בֵּיהּ, בְּרָא דְּיִפּוֹק מִנֵּיהּ לְעָלְמָא, הוּא אַמְשִׁיךְ עֲלֵיהּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבוּ, וְיִסְתָּאַב בִּמְסָאֲבוּ דְּהַהוּא סִטְרָא.

Children Leaves Light

330. This is what is meant by the verse: "who knows the spirit of THE SONS OF man." For when MAN cleaves to the right, THE LIGHT HE DRAWS FROM BELOW ascends UPWARD. And when a man is bound to the left - THE LEFT SIDE - which is the spirit of defilement, he descends AND DRAWS LIGHT downward from above. It resides with that man and never leaves him. The child born to him, while he is so defiled, is considered the child of the unclean spirit.

330. וְעַל דָא כְּתִיב, מִי יוֹדֵעַ רוּחַ בְּנֵי הָאָדָם הָעוֹלָה הִיא לְמַעְלָה. כַּד אִיהוּ בְּאִתְדַּבְּקוּת יָמִינָא, סָלְקָא הִיא לְעֵילָא. וְכַד אִיהוּ בְּאִתְדַּבְּקוּת שְׂמָאלָא, הַהוּא סְטַר שְׂמָאלָא, דְּאִיהוּ רוּחַ מְסָאֲבוּ, נָחֵית מֵעֵילָא לְתַתָּא, וְשַׁוֵּי דִיּוּרֵיהּ בְּבַר נָשׁ, וְלָא אַעֲדֵי מִנֵּיהּ. וּבְרָא דְאוֹלִיד בְּהַהוּא מְסָאֲבוּ אִיהוּ הֲוֵי בְּרֵיהּ, מֵהַהוּא רוּחַ מְסָאַב, אִיהוּ הַהוּא בְּרָא.

Abel Adam Cain Eve Serpent

331. Adam clove to the unclean spirit, THE SERPENT, and his wife, EVE, clung to it first and took and received defilement from it. He begot a son; that son was the son of the impure spirit. Thus, there were two sons: one from the unclean spirit, WHO IS CAIN, and another who was born after Adam had repented, WHO IS ABEL. Hence, one was born of the side of impurity, NAMELY CAIN, and one of the side of purity, NAMELY ABEL.

331. אָדָם אִתְדַּבַּק בְּהַהוּא רוּחַ מְסָאַב, וְאִתְּתֵיהּ אִתְדַּבְּקָא בֵּיהּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, וְנַטְלַת וְקַבֵּילַת הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא מִנֵּיהּ. אוֹלִיד בַּר, הַאי בְּרָא, בְּרָא דְרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא אִיהוּ. וְעַל דָּא, תְּרֵין בְּנִין הֲווֹ, חַד מֵהַהוּא רוּחַ מְסָאָב, וְחַד כַּד תָּב אָדָם בִּתְיוּבְתָּא, וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ, הַאי מִסִּטְרָא מְסָאֳבָא, וְהַאי מִסִּטְרָא דַכְיָיא.

Abel Adam Cain Eve Serpent

332. Rabbi Elazar said: When the serpent injected its impurity into Eve, she absorbed it, MEANING THAT SHE WAS MADE PREGNANT BY IT. And when Adam had intercourse with her, she gave birth to two sons, one from the impure side, AND THAT WAS CAIN, and the other from the side of Adam, AND THAT WAS ABEL. Abel resembled the upper image and Cain the lower. Consequently, their paths parted.

332. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֲמַר, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַטֵּיל נָחָשׁ הַהוּא זוּהֲמָא בָּהּ בְּחַוָּה, קַבֵּילַת לֵיהּ, וְכַד אִשְׁתַּמַּשׁ עִמָּהּ אָדָם, אוֹלִידַת תְּרֵין בְּנִין, חַד מֵהַהוּא סִטְרָא מְסָאֳבָא, וְחַד מִסִּטְרָא דְּאָדָם. וַהֲוֵי דָּמֵי הֶבֶל, בִּדְיוֹקְנָא דִלְעֵילָא, וְקַיִּן בִּדְיוֹקְנָא דִלְתַתָּא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אִתְפְּרָשׁוּ אָרְחַיְיהוּ דָּא מִן דָּא.

Abel Angel of Death Angels Cain Death Death and the Afterlife Demons Evil Serpent Sin Soul, The Tree

333. It was evident that Cain was the son of the impure spirit, which is the evil serpent. Because he originated from the side of the Angel of Death, he killed his brother. THEREFORE, THE MURDER OF ABEL IS IDENTICAL TO THE SIN OF EATING FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, AND BOTH WERE INCITED BY THE SERPENT. AND, AS IN THE AFFAIR OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, IN WHICH THE ANGEL OF DEATH GAINED CONTROL OVER THE WHOLE WORLD, HERE TOO HE GAINED CONTROL - TAKING OUT THE SOUL OF ABEL. CAIN comes from the side of the Angel of Death, and all the evil habitations, demons, and harmful spirits come to the world from him.

333. וַדַּאי קַיִן, בְּרָא דְרוּחַ מְסָאֲבָא הֲוָה, דְּאִיהוּ חִוְיָא בִּישָׁא הֲוָה. וּבְגִין דְּקַיִן אָתָא מִסִּטְרָא דְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, קָטֵיל לֵיהּ לַאֲחוֹי. וְהוּא בְּסִטְרָא דִילֵיהּ, וּמִנֵּיהּ כָּל מְדוֹרִין בִּישִׁין, וּמַזִיקִין וְשֵׁדִין וְרוּחִין אַתְיָין לְעָלְמָא.

Angel of Death Angels Cain Earth Evil Flesh Fruit Nest Sacrifice

334. Rabbi Yosi said: THE NAME Cain indicates a nest (Heb. ken) of the evil habitations that come to the world from the impure side. Afterward, they brought sacrifices, each from its own side. So it is written: "And it came to pass, at the end of days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the earth" (Beresheet 4:3). Rabbi Shimon said: it is written, "at the end of days." What is "the end of days?" It is the End of all Flesh. What is THE END OF ALL FLESH? It is the Angel of Death, INDICATING THAT THE SACRIFICE CAIN BROUGHT WAS FROM THE SIDE OF IMPURITY.

334. אֲמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, קַיִן קִינָא דִּמְדוֹרִין בִּישִׁין, דְּאָתוֹ מִסִּטְרָא דִּמְסָאֳבָא לְעָלְמָא. וּלְבָתַר אַיְיתִיאוּ קָרְבָּנָא. דָּא אַקְרִיב מִסִּטְרָא דִילֵיהּ, וְדָא אַקְרִיב מִסִּטְרָא דִילֵיהּ. הה"ד וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים וַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה וגו'. ר' שִׁמְעוֹן אֲמַר, וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים, מַאי מִקֵּץ יָמִים, דָּא הוּא קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר. וּמָאן אִיהוּ דָּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת.

Angels Cain Daniel Death Death and the Afterlife Evil Offering

335. Cain brought his offering from this "end of days." To be exact, the text uses the word Yamim (Days) and not Yamin (Right). Hence, it is written of Daniel, "And you go your way till the end and rest, and hence stand at your destiny" (Daniel 12:13). DANIEL asks THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, "the end of Yamim or Yamin?" For YAMIM IS AN EVIL KLIPAH. And He replied: "at the end of days (yamin)." But Cain brought his offering from the end of Yamim, WHICH IS THE SIDE OF THE ANGEL OF DEATH, BECAUSE HE BROUGHT HIS OFFERING FROM HIS SIDE.

335. וְקַיִן מֵהַהוּא קֵץ יָמִים אַיְיתֵי קָרְבָּנָא, דַּיְיקָא דְּקָאָמַר מִקֵּץ יָמִים, וְלָא אֲמַר מִקֵּץ יָמִין. וּבְגִין כָּךְ כָּתוּב בְּדָנִיּאֵל וְאַתָּה לֵךְ לַקֵּץ וְתָנוּחַ וְתַעֲמוֹד לְגוֹרָלְךָ. אָמָר לוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִים אוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין. אָמָר לוֹ לְקֵץ הַיָּמִין. וְקַיִן מִקֵּץ הַיָּמִים אַיְיתֵי.

Angel of Death Angels Cain Death Death and the Afterlife Earth Evil Fruit Offering Serpent Sin Tree Wicked Wickedness

336. "Cain brought of the fruit of the earth." These words are parallel to "the fruit of the Tree" (Beresheet 3:3). AS THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE EVIL SERPENT, SO HERE HE BROUGHT HIS OFFERING FROM THE EVIL SERPENT. Rabbi Elazar said, "the fruit of the earth" is similar to "Alas! It shall be ill with the wicked, for according to the deserving of his hands shall be done to him" (Yeshayah 3:11). For "of his hands" refers to the Angel of Death, WHO IS THE DESERVING FRUIT OF THE DEEDS OF THE WICKED. BECAUSE IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE SIN, HE WOULD NOT HAVE COME TO THE WORLD. "Shall be done to him" means that it is drawn to and cleaves to them, killing and defiling them. Hence, THE WORDS "THE FRUIT OF THE EARTH" INDICATE that Cain's offering came from his side, WHICH MEANT IT CAME FROM THE SERPENT AND THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

336. וַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה. כד"א וּמִפְּרִי הָעֵץ. אֲמַר ר' אֶלְעָזָר, מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה, כד"א אוֹי לָרָשָׁע רָע כִּי גְמוּל יָדָיו וגו'. גְּמוּל יָדָיו. דָּא מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת. יַעֲשֶׂה לוֹ, דְּאִתְמְשַׁךְ עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְיִתְדַּבַּק בְּהוֹ לְקָטְלָא לוֹן וּלְסָאֳבָא לוֹן. וְעַל דָּא קַיִן אַקְרִיב מִסִּטְרָא דִילֵיהּ.

Abel Cain Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Offering Sacrifice

337. "And Abel also brought of the firstlings" (Beresheet 4:4). THE FUNCTION OF THE WORD "ALSO" IS to strengthen the upper side, THE PART FROM THE CHEST UPWARD, that is the holy side. That is why "Hashem turned to Abel and his offering," BECAUSE IT WAS FROM THE SIDE OF HOLINESS, "but to Cain and his offering, He did not turn" (Ibid. 6). The Holy One, blessed be He, did not accept CAIN'S SACRIFICE BECAUSE IT WAS FROM THE UNCLEAN SIDE. Hence, "Cain was very angry and his face fell," meaning that the offering from his side was not accepted, but Abel's offering was.

337. וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַּם הוּא מִבְּכוֹרוֹת. לְאַסְגָּאָה סִטְרָא עִלָּאָה, דְּאַתְיָא מִסְּטַר קְדוּשָׁתָא. וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ, וַיִּשַּׁע ה' אֶל הֶבֶל וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ וְאֶל קַיִן וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה. לָא קַבֵּיל לֵיהּ קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְעַל דָּא וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן מְאֹד וַיִּפְּלוּ פָנָיו. דְּהָא לָא אִתְקַבִּילוּ אַנְפּוֹי, אִינוּן אַנְפִּין דְּסִטְרוֹי, וְקַבֵּיל לֵיהּ לְהֶבֶל.

Abel Cain Female Jealousy Women

338. Hence, it is written: "And it came to pass when they were in the field" (Ibid. 8). The word "field" here refers to a woman, as it was in, "For he found her in the field" (Devarim 22:27), IN WHICH "FIELD" ALSO REFERRED TO A WOMAN. BY ANALOGY, THE "FIELD" IN THE FORMER VERSE ALSO ALLUDES TO A WOMAN. Cain was jealous of the additional twin girl born with Abel, as it is written: "And she again bore to his (Heb. et) brother (Heb. et) Abel" (Beresheet 4:2). THIS DOUBLE USE OF THE PARTICLE ET IS A REFERENCE TO THE TWO GIRLS BORN WITH ABEL.

338. וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ כָּתוּב, וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה. בַּשָּׂדֶה דָּא אִתְּתָא, כְּד"א כִּי בַּשָּׂדֶה מְצָאָהּ, וְקַיִן קָנֵי עַל נוּקְבָא יְתֵירָה, דְּאִתְיְלֵידַת עִם הֶבֶל. דִּכְתִיב, וַתּוֹסֶף לָלֶדֶת וְהָא אִתְּמָר.

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