Mystical Secrets In The Garden of Eden

okay nice to see everybody welcome back to Lighthouse thank you I'm glad I'm the um the first speaker to initiate it I guess something to be said for that to be the first B did I say that correctly how do you say it long live that's it that's what I'm trying to say thank you you know B are very interesting people I have to say that I I went to get my haircut today and I was at a barber and naturally he's a ban Barber and he's there all these these kids I guess young guys like early 19 18 192 was teaching them how to cut hair I was the only one there I walk in while he's cutting my hair we're having a whole theological discussion about the Book of Genesis you know where was Adam borne who was he married to how long were they married how many children do they have so I was thinking where else do you go you know that you're getting your haircut and The Barbers are are you know instead of cutting your hair they're talking to you about the book of braus you know that was very interesting it was very difficult to answer because you know they were trimming my beard so you know like I was kind of waiting for him to like you know stop to if I could answer but I couldn't put they were they just wanted to talk about these issues you know that's very impressive I don't think You' find that in Italian barers Shop only B and bar that's the Jewish people okay so what I want to do with you tonight is I want to take you through the first day of the creation of Adam in and on this first day of creation really a question comes up which is you know I guess it's a question that we have as well well you know has everybody ever been to the Bronx Su and it's a good place to go the Bronx Su and if you go the Bronx so what's your favorite exhibit the monkeys the monkeys and if you go the monkeys specifically the gorillas because the gorillas are so human looking and it's very fascinating to watch them because they do very human things you know they pick up their children and they chase after the children and they break up fights and you know it's just so interesting to see these animals acting in in such a humanlike way and the reality is if we study the DNA of a gorilla what would we find is DNA is identical to our DNA no we different what's that we have a little bit different what's that Dr K what did you say a little bit different that's where they from we came from we we well but if you seek but our DNA is very close and there's a strong resemblance in the way they conduct themselves and if it's almost possible to look at that ape and to say you know what's the difference between you and and me and in fact people have said that right the whole theories that are built around that concept Evolution that we evolved we just a higher level ape with more intelligence or something of that nature that's what evolutionist told and as you look the ape in the face and you watch him you know interact with the children and and you think why you're so so so humanlike you know the question really is what is the difference between us you know that's a question it's very interesting to me that one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter K the letter K you know what a k looks like a k k you could imagine a K in your mind K looks like this right you know what it means means a monkey monkey it's a mon a a k how interesting it is that one of the building blocks of creation you you know the alive baate the 22 letters of the alive baate are the letters from which Hashem built all creation so one of some to speak the primordial building blocks is a letter that means an ape or a monkey so there must be something very interesting about the monkey now what's interesting about the monkey the zoa tells us is that it excels in imitation it imitates it can imitate a human being and supposed to remind us that we're supposed to imitate itate but who are we supposed to imitate we're supposed to imitate that's where the first letter Kad starts with a we're supposed to imitate K to go in God's ways so the ape reminds us be an imitator but at the same time don't make the mistake that think you're an ape you know how do I know that there's a word in Hebrew for righteous person what's the right what's a righteous person called sadik sadik the root is right if you break up those three letters into the component parts you actually have l what does sad mean in Hebrew sad is a side l means to trap or to hunt because the way you trap is you place sides around the animal true you can't do it on chab the letter k k means what a monkey monkey you know what a sadic is somebody who traps his monkey he contains and he controls the animal inside of himself and a kados is the letters for is really holy kin if you rearrange letters it's Dash he tramples his monkey not only does he control it he tramples it so we see all these hints to the aspect yes there is an animal out there that resembles Mankind and you're supposed to follow its example of imitation to imitate God but don't be confused to think that's you he looks like you he has the same DNA as you but he's just an animal and what makes him different than you he might be very intelligent I'm sure there were very intelligent carillas I'm sure of it but what makes him different that us we have something else we have Nish we have a soul we have an animal the body which is very similar to the ape but we have aish we have a soul and that soul has to drive and has to direct the body we have to the we have to trap it we have to harness it we have to direct it we have to use it in the service of God you know it's very fascinating I just noticed this just the other day yesterday in fact I saw you know in English we have a word forbidden something is forbidden what does forbidden mean forbidden means not a loud how do you say forbidden in Russian [Music] how you say right you said right [Music] okay means forbidden I say how do you say huh it's a long word it's a long word don't say it how do you say it in Persian who Persian who are Persians any Persians here same interesting and America could we say forbidden would it be surprised you if surprise you if I told you that in Hebrew in lashes there is no word for forbidden oh my father used to say he has forbidden what does forbidden mean forbidden means I'm not allowed to do something forbid it's forbidden don't touch it don't do it that's not what lur means no doesn't mean that at all I give you ashem you are the source of all blessing the king of the universe who releases The Forbidden no no they imprison oh assim doesn't mean forbidden does it it means to be imprisoned to be controlled for example assur means to to harness on a on a horse take the Reigns and to to control the horse with the RS is in Hebrew doesn't mean to forbidden it means to control or to contain to use the energy of something else for a greater purpose God says you know there's no word in the Torah for forbidden you know why cuz there's no such thing as the world being forbidden there are things which true we are not allowed to do but it's only because by not being allowed to do those things we control the other part of who we are it helps bring out something else it's like when you take the reins of a horse right and you you're that's that means s you direct it you control it what do you do you allow the full energy of the animal to go forward so yeah certain things in life we have to control but it's only for the purpose of bringing out something even greater it's not just forbidden because it's forbidden it's controlled for the purpose of harnessing it and bringing out a greater strength is interesting very fascinating what a sadic does is he sad he controls his monkey he harnesses the strength of the animal for the purpose of God serving God he's not ruled by his monkey he controls it he uses it he's the rider it's the horse and he uses that energy to go forward and to make good things happen in the world that's a sadik you don't just let the horse run around run without a rider now the reason I bring this up to you is because if we're going to go back to the first day of Creation in the Garden of Eden I'm going to suggest to you that maybe this question wasn't so clear that and perhaps had a dilemma dilemma is here I am created but who am I who is the real me what am I I have an animal and the animal speaking to me with all sorts of languages of drives and wants and looks and and I I definitely you know I'm very similar to the animals in many ways I have a lust I have a passion and I you know and I have I want to do what the animals do and I want to eat and I want to protect myself and I want comfort and at the same time there's the voice of God and I want to suggest to you perhaps on the first day of creation in the Garden of Eden which didn't last very long it only lasted according to gor Rashana approximately 6 hours in that first day in the Garden of Eden maybe this question wasn't so clear and let's take a look and let's see what I mean if we go back into the garden of Edom we see the first thing that happens and God said God said let's make man in our image and in our likeness who's God speaking to by the way let's make man the angel he's speaking to the angels good speaking to the angels very good and what happens they agree why does he have to why does he have to speak to the Angels by the way why speak to the angels to show politeness to show that before you make a major decision in life you first ask advice even God is asking a lower being the Angels should we make man teachers you before you make major decisions you ask advice before you get married everybody who's not married don't just come home and say oh I'm married I'm engaged ask advice ask advice ask your teachers ask your parents ask your friends and hopefully he'll ask you okay now here it goes so what happens it says the first creation of mankind was actually it was male and female Rashi says the first creation was a creation which had a face looking this way which is the male face and a female face looking this way male and created them and it defines a little bit what men and women are like a man's vision of the world is to forge forward so to speak to create of inspiration to go out a woman's job is to make sure that it's secure to look back as it were to make sure that the line is straight and where he's going is solid and then the story progresses and God says the very famous line that [Applause] God says it's not good for a man to be alone now apparently this first creation of Adam it was male female but was really One Creation and he was alone why was he alone he really couldn't give to anybody there was no one to give to just really was purely his purely himself so what does God do it says that Shem made the garden to the East and placed of the man whom he had formed and what happened was what's that I think like this is like G perfect set up for sin what's that the perfect what set up the scene you set up the scene make a scene oh well let's see let's let's see what happens so he places autum in the garden let's find the verse here okay so he planted a garden in Eden Place of the man he had formed now we know that a a Rivers different rivers in the Garden of Eden and Hashem placed man in the Garden of Eden to work in the garded and Hashem then commanded Adam he gave a commandment what was the Commandment that he gave adam do not eat what was that do not eat well what are you say B do not eat do not eat who agrees with Bella that was the first commandment that Adam received do not tou the do not touch the Do Not Touch do not touch the tray do not eat the [Music] tray who's heard my lecture before here who knew that even without my lecture you heard my lecture before when he created just Adam yeah right he said name the we'll get there in a second first thing he plac in the Garden of Eden plac in the Garden of Eden to work in the garden is not yet around still one being he commanded the saying be from every tree of the garden you yes you must eat you are obligated to eat first commandment is to enjoy every fruit of the garden let me ask a question is AEM interested that we should have pleasure in this world yes the first commandment he gives a is enjoy every fruit of the garden but one tree the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil don't eat from it because the day when you eat from it you will surely die one tree it's a tree of knowledge of Good and Evil a tree that has dust what's that where somehow eating from this tree will create knowledge of something which is good and bad good and evil stay away from one thing that's all how interesting it is that people often times think that the first commandment is not to do something as if God wants to restrict our Pleasures in this world I'm going to see why in a minute but really the first commandment was you're obligated to enjoy everything that God created except one thing one thing and it was a tree from which if you would eat good and bad would be mixed whatever that means for now but there would be a mixture somehow you'd be able to be confused by what is good and what is bad perhaps we express that your desires would increase you would have real desires a stronger amount of Desire whereby you'd be confused by what you want versus what God wants so God's saying there's one thing I'm restricting but I'm restricting it only so you should have greater Clarity I'm not just restricting it for the sake of restricting it I'm restricting it so that you should have greater Clarity of what I want from you in my life I don't want you to have the confusion as your desires first my desires I don't want that I'd rather you be in harmony with my desires so one thing they can't do then what happens hasem then says God says it's not good for man to be alone I need to create for him an AER connecto a helpmate Rashi says we know the famous rash it means Eve if a woman if a man is going on the right path he's going to be an AER she'll be a helper if a man's on the wrong path she'll be cono a woman has the capacity to be a spiritual compass for a man there's a much higher level sense of God's will now very interesting at this point in the story the story breaks and has an interlude and listen to what the interlude is it says created from the ground now all the animals of the field yes and all the birds of heaven and he gave the assignment to see who said it before what name he'll call these animals the name that would give it would be the name the animal would have Adam was given the job of naming the animal kingdom he had the intimate knowledge of the animals and he understood lashes the Hebrew language and he understood when he looked at an elephant you have to be a Peele looked at a horse you have to be a su you know he he looked at a lion Rea is what you are he understood how these letters described perfectly the essence of the animals and he was given that job to name the animals and he gave names to all the animals and the birds and the animals of the field but he could not find an animal that he could relate to the andm caused a great sleep to fall and he slept andem took one of his ribs or Rashi says it's not ribs he took his other side because a side he split off the other side and he sealed up the flesh andm gave the side or the rib which he took from as a wife and he presented her to creation of Eve said upon this time this time finally born of my bone flesh from My Flesh and that's why he called her because from the man she was taken now Rashi says a medish over here which kind of sounds almost comical but you got to listen to this because it's very strange Rashi is bothered by the words when is presented toam what does Adam say what does Adam say he says the words Zam this time meaning finally this time my bone and flesh My Flesh what does other mean this time see Rashi quotes listen Rashi quotes over here tell me this isn't the weirdest thing you ever heard in your life Says Z made it teaches us that not only named the animals but he dated all the animals but he was not able to be at peace with any of them until finally was created didn't have a problem with that I I mean dated means I'm trying to use a nice word of David means what you mean by D David means he took her out to they went out to the chosan they had a little uh you know Monte relationship you know not Rel just keep it we're keep it R we're going to keep it rated PG for the g g for Grandma for this um for this discussion but it's that's what he did it says he was he went he went out with the animals you know he went out Hashem told him to or he did it on his it seems like that was part of the assignment of of Hashem gave him the task of naming the animals and it seems that naming the animals was not all that he was supposed to do supposed to name the animals and in the process of naming he was supposed to discover if any of these animals could be his wife he was he was dating dating the first time I ever heard Rashi I'm calling you Rashi I'm not making it up so maybe he was looking for company like you know like someone to hang out with what's [Music] exact was trying to do but wanted a closer hanging out but it wasn't no so I hear what you said yeah I mean this was warning commanded to do that say say good let me read the exact words here it says Z this time says this time finally when he was created he says Z finally teaches us he came upon all the animals belone him and his mind was not at peace May means he was talking to them I don't know I I I I hate to tell you know I'm sorry if I have to bring this from a g rating up a little bit but it sounds like you know they were going out to dinner you know I don't know what they were doing they were going out to dinner you know what's that language that they use when they you know from my hand how do you say that you know from my hand how do you say how do you say how you say that's what I'm looking for you say again say again how you say right you know I guess you know they they're having a great time they were going they were eating going I guess they W eting Stakes if they were they but you know but but the question yes you know they don't bite me I think the part that we're really trying to absorb is the part where God said we should do that that was the part of that's where what's your name what's your name um TOA TOA to TOA say something very very BR yeah the question is what what what did God have in mind to what what did God have in mind didn't Hashem in His Infinite Wisdom know that the giraffe would not make a good sh you know she's so tall like I mean you know I mean you know or or like the ostrich would not just somehow would not look good in the wedding picture you know whatever you know or the El you know I mean like what what that is dangerous I think animals what so the sh is okay spiritual on me going be spiritual did he have babies no we didn't marry them he didn't Mar he was he went out with them they dated they dated they no marriages no dating they were dating no all the animals had high respect so so but the question the question I really have and it's a very serious question is what was God intention why did God seem to make Adam go through this this facade as it were this this exercise to not only name the animal kingdom but to see if he could meet with you see if he could find his his other half from the Animal Kingdom I know to appreciate his new wife oh so that's a very good answer that's a very good answer the one he would discover he he would really appreciate he would he would really appreciate that uh that that kava is really somebody who belongs to him and is like him 100% that's a good answer it's totally different level that's a very interesting answer also that's a very interesting answer yeah or is it that um he wants to see how as a man he would react spiritually to an to an animal you see saying very good everybody saying you're all saying something which I think is very in line you're saying something very very in line here but let's just hold the question we're going to get to the answer we're we're going to pinpoint the answer a little sharper in a moment but the question is certainly a good question that hasem wisdom knows the elephant the ostrich the kangaroo are not proper sh I mean many of you have probably in the process of dating have probably G out with people and you've thought you know I might as well be out with a kangaroo for all I have in common with him right you know like I might as well be out with a hippopotamus you know he eats like a hippopotamus you know who I you know what did the sh have in mind you might be thinking that but God is excellent andem doesn't knew this yet yet he was making through this exercise of dating the animal kingdom before he found and that's a very very interesting point I think we have to hold it in the back of our minds for a moment and perhaps this this young lady suggested that it could be that to appreciate Kore that could be and might be part of it and I'm not going to disagree with that I think there's something that might even be deeper and it might be even connected with the test that Adam is going to experience in a few moments okay can I say one yes sure maybe it's if he would some would have G immediately while he's married to her if she ever gets on his nerves he would have been like why am I with her when I could be with that beautiful monkey this why he knows okay nobody's for me except her uh that's that's I think a similar type to really appreciate yes to really appreciate but a fascinating it's a fascinating Rashi it's a fascinating Rashi um I heard this uh David Aaron he wrote that he uh Adam had to experience I guess dates that were on a lower level on a lower spiritual level everything that once he met Hava he felt there's someone that's opposite me but parallel so someone that can help him I guess get to where he needs to go but at the same time someone that he can feel equal to very nice very nice that that that interesting that that he had to experience certain lower levels of of dating in order to find somebody who is you're right different as or connecto but it's me is on the same is on very fascinating very fasc ideas very I think the whole world cre for usure interesting that's interesting that's interesting what you're saying that's interesting yeah right there were no Pro there were no prohibitions there one right there's no Pro you know right question is does it make sense though you know Adam had SE tremendous SE this wisdom you know he wouldn't do anything unless it made sense you know what what made sense about this and and why would God seem to command it seem like God suggested it in his commandment to name the animals but maybe like he's going to to date where he's doing get more knowledge about like any be more mature he's going to be mature in something I think you're saying very good now listen to the structure of the story that you know you have to when you when you study Torah especially braus you have to listen you have to follow follow God's movements you have to look what's happenening over here what does God do God creates Adam first he creates him as one unit and by the way the ran says the reason for that is because when K will finally be separated off from him he'll be able to relate to her like he's she's really his other half so God goes through this two-step process so that when husband and wife do come together and United marriage there is an actual spiritual reality of finding the other part of who you are and therefore the level of giving can be a new level of giving giving really to who you are so God wants that so it goes to this two-step process of creating this sort of um heterogeneous being splitting off the other side so to speak making then saying look Adam it's not good to be alone one would think right there when he says oh it's not good to be alone you'd think he'd go right into the creation of K no but that's what I said there was an interlude the Torah says L and then all of a sudden comes the command to go name the animal kingdom goes out to name the animal kingdom finally he can't find anybody who is right for him as he says then puts him inard of Deep Sleep takes his other side or his rib whatever you want to translate it Rashi says his other half other side seals up the flesh under it presents K to him and he says sorry he saids finally I found someone who is like me and Rashi says right there finally I found teaches us that first he tried to test to see if there's any animal in creation could be his wife what happened why was there that interu that separation keep that in mind okay keep that in mind it's going to be a very important point just just just keep it in mind next thing that happens is we're introduced to the next character the the snake and the Nash was the craftiest animal that's crafty with a c not with a K like Rabbi craft he was is the craftiest animal okay let's see now first we to the Nash let's stop right there who is the Nash so understand the Nash was a aash a walking talking creature and how interesting it is that we're not supposed to be surprised by that oh there's there's aash that comes out and starts talking you know you know sometimes in the Torah we are surprised by animals talking for example donkey yeah billam donkey let's talking yeah KN we talk you as if this dialogue with this animal is is totally natural and totally normal and he's very intelligent and he walks straight up almost like a person and it says he's arum what does arum mean in Hebrew arum you translate it means naked it means naked who was naked the was arum you see that word a lot in the story he was arum he was naked Maybe it means that he didn't have fur like the other animals that could be but it seems to imply he was AR room meaning he was he was Wily he was crafty with a small C but you know it's interesting by the way in English if if I say the Naked Truth what does that mean real truth tell you the real truth doesn't I'm not trying to hide anything it's the naked truth so interesting the word arum naked often times in language doesn't really mean to be cunning it means to be exposed to be open yet here his nakedness somehow is used to describe a cunningness yeah do that Mak sense what does that mean let's think about that he's going to say something now to and it's described as cunning yet the word for cunning is a word that really means naked which means sort of open and revealed as if he's going to be cunning in a very open and revealed way so keep that in mind for a moment now who else was the n is is like um sly you know uh wly crafty those type of word synonyms like Sly in Russian what K sne sneaky sneaky sneaky sneaky sneaky sneaky sneaky you know the word Nash by the way you want something interesting you know we know that after the FL after the Tower of B mixed up all the languages so all the languages in the world the 7 languages of the world are really just mixed up Hebrew did you know that the only language in the world the only hanger language in the world was after the door this we the mixed up and created 70 languages so you know that Russian is really just mixed up Hebrew you know bararan well for sure that's mixed up Hebrew right did you know that English is mixed up Hebrew I'll give you an example what's the word for snake in Hebrew interesting if I put the shin first I put the N second and I put the third what's that sound like snake how interesting the word if I flip the letters around and I put the sh it sounds very much like snake you here it's an example of one of the words where you see that English is just mixed up I have a book at home with 10,000 words like that very FAS let's go back to the story who else was the Nash the Nash was an angel he was an angel which Angel was he according to our tradition he was the the Satan the Satan the Nash was the Satan question body why like he there is right the Nash the Satan was placed in this body of this being called the Nash now in Judaism is the Satan a good angel or a bad Angel good good angel or bad Angel well he's good to God is but his he's good at doing his job he's good at doing his job okay let let's get this very very clear please get this very clear with me but don't make yeah okay good question let's take a vote who says Satan is a good Angel who's who says Satan is a bad angel I don't care what anybody says he's bad he's bad what's the correct answer bad Satan a good angel or bad angel I explain soan explain in Judaism there can be no such thing as a bad Angel the Satan is God's most important Angel his job is to test us to intensify our free choice and thereby allowed us allow us to have greater reward he's the only angel that's happy when we don't listen to him most angels are happy when we listen and we follow what they're telling us the Satan doesn't want us to listen he doesn't want us to fail but his job is to test us so that that the reward we receive will be even greater that's the that's the Satan now I'll tell you something in Christianity the Satan is viewed as an angel Who Fell From Grace an angel who rebelled against God he rebelled against God and he started an evil sort of counter Kingdom to God that's what Christianity believes and in order to defeat the suan there's only one way to do it you have to believe in yashka that's the Bel the only way you're going to overcome the suon is if you believe and you accept yashka if not you are going to right I don't mean you personally don't I just you right that you know that's they believe now I'll tell you you know I'll tell you something listen very carefully to this I'm telling you what number in the secular world in the Christian world is considered to be a cursed number six six good and what other number 13 13 let's start with 13 Friday the 13th let me see a question in Judaism what number perhaps is our most beloved number 13 13 when do we take a little boy in bar mitz with him 13 how many attributes does God have 13 of we love the number 13 I'll tell you why we love number 13 so much because the word is listen to Israel is our God you are one if I take the if I take the word the is one the is eight the do is four what's the gatria 13 true now what's special about the number 13 you know special number 13 anything in the physical world listen carefully this a little bit deep any everything in the physical world you'll notice has how many lines 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 and the space that it contains is called the 13th 13 for US represents All Points the complete Unity of creation and that's why is gatria of 13 and that's why by the way the word which means love Al is one hey is five Bas is two hey is five is also 13 because the idea of love is to try to become a complete Oneness right 13 but the 12 points which contain the 13th the 13 within is the aspect of everything coming together in complete and absolute unity and that's what we believe as Jews there's complete unity in this world and you know what that means Unity there can be no angels that are separate from God there can't be rebellious bad Angels unity means everything is controlled and designated and part of God's plan and will but I'll tell you something in Christianity you know why they hate the number 13 because if there's complete unity in the world you know what that means it means the sutan must work for God but the sutan works for God what do we need yoska for because the whole purpose of yoska is that without yoska you can't overcome the Su our answer to that is yeah yeah what what do you need yoska for that's what do you need Jesus for the whole premise of theology is based on the fact that a rebellious Angel 13 teaches us a complete Unity how believing in him saves you from the that's the whole theology that that that to to oh thank you that's the only reason why that's a pretty pretty pretty heavy reason it's a pretty good reason what is the six cuz six is also the idea six is six is also the idea of like for example the Jewish star right you have how many how many you you have six points six is also the idea of like of of expression out of the physical world unity in the physical world 6 and 12 six is half of it then 12 is the completion of it and the space it contains is the 13 so why 666 that's why for us we you know well we hold you know like a Jewish star it shows interlacing at six points three six points is the idea that you could have six points of of emerging together of the physical and the spiritual you know that's complete completion of the physical world is six in Christianity hly can't have that it's like you know you have one one point of inter intersection a different discussion so all this Voodoo stuff and and all these bad Angels they're really with hasem God forbid nothing can be a bad Angel right there's no such thing whatever they are right there could be Angels which have the job to perhaps you know work in C atuma things like that whatever it is but everything is Unified by God and the suan is God's most important Angel he is not a rebellious Angel he is a wonderful Angel at the time of mashiach it says that God is going to doesn't mean he's going to take a bullet like in stalinist Russia and shoot him in the head it doesn't mean that what it mean no it means what when you do on an animal are you murdering the animal or are you uplifting the animal for a higher purpose uplifting right saying that the something's going to be uplifted back to the place we're going to understand that he was helping us all along he was trying to test Us in order that we should have greater free choice and by having greater free choice have greater reward in the next world that's the Satan is you hear okay yeah you got it no such thing as rebellious something doesn't work that way that's Christianity that's not Judaism we're very influenced by outside ideologies so the suan comes along in the guise in the disguise as it were of a creature called The Snake the Nash okay now he's a su but he's the Su his job is to test Adam and Eve in order to encourage them to to eat that's the test there's only one test now in the Garden of Eden and it's a real test you know you have to understand that the the tree the eight do to it has certain descriptions about it descriptions are that apparently it was it was good to smell it was pleasing to the eye it was told there was something about it that you just wanted to to contemplate it to think about it like poetry or Sunset there was something enormously temp you know temp tempting about it and apparently it had all the tests that a human being can face in one one thing you know all intern all right very good all tests in life really are a combination of of you know of of different desires either physical desires or emotional desires or intellectual desires all tests in life fall into those three categories the eight of D apparently was it it was good to the eye there was a physical desire it was it apparently it it gave you desires of for honor it it was intellectually something very very attractive about it and that's why there's a debate in the talid what it really was some say that it was in etrog the most beautiful fruits left the test of beauty some say it was actually grapes which you create wine from which is a test of emotions some say that it was actually figs which is a cash crop a fig tree to Ana which is a test of covod of honor and the fourth opinion said that it was actually a bread tree that was a bread tree a bread tree that it actually was bread that in the Garden of Eden bread Grew From the trees and that you know that's when we make the blessing on bread what do we say God you the source of all blessing the king of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth we don't bring bread forth from the Earth Earth do we what do we do we have to plant the seed we have to let the seed rise we then have to harvest it thresh it we then have to um Dash it separate it we then have to grind it knead it bake it actually there are 10 steps in the bread breaking process it's very difficult to bring bread forth in the earth true that's why by the way when you make the blessing on bread you put your 10 fingers on the bread to remind us of the 10 processes that have to go from seed to to bread and that's why of course you know this that in the blessing there are 10 words you know that right 10 words to remind us of the 10 processes breaking bread but why do we say God you brought forth the bread from the earth it's a lie the answer is in the Garden of Eden there were bread trees you could go to a tree there was a pumper nickel tree a bagel tree there was a lioska tree that you you know there was a nki tree there was n this is true there was a naoki tree you know the umbrella bread you know I mean what they called n n there was an umbrella bread tree what no there was there was a tree but there's one problem because when those when they would ripen they would fall and they would crack so God had a little angel standing there with a colorful yamaka and he would catch him a colorful yam yeah and and then he would he would bring it you know he would serve it you never heard that we have I heard that at V place the bakery they told me what you have a bread fruit tree in Jamaica you what what' you say tree bre bread fruit really really that's right very fascinating very fasc The Taste is like bread that's what you know what it's funny ala kind of looks like bread what what was like bread ala kind of looks like alofa is a fruit I know I know but it kind of looks like really really interesting but those were the four possibilities it was not an apple it was anything but an apple okay that was a Renaissance hardest you have a question don't we say it like we think our effort could be that's possible that's right right that's very nice also the main reason it's one of the possible I think thear says because in the Garden of Eden bread grew actually from the tree it's only the curse that we said now with the curse of your brow the S your brow you have to bring forth bread it reminds us of what life was like in the Garden of Eden there all our needs were prepar with the bread that's not real bread it's just called that but the taste the same does no no it doesn't it just looks like it it looks like it but it's I'll tell you after okay so listen carefully everybody the job of now the disguised of this of the snake his job is to test them to get them to eat now if you were if your job you're the suan not I I didn't mean you personally right if if you if you had the assignment of the Nash of the Su what might you use as a cunning argument a naked so to speak a cunning argument to get to eat first of all he approaches why because didn't hear the Commandment directly from God did was she unconscious when she was attached to that no she was she didn't have a memory of that experience she was part of him but it was whatever it was but it was not a separate entity them received the command so his job was to teach it now perhaps he taught it correctly perhaps he didn't taught it correct the whole question but now if you're the snake your God gives you this task get them to eat test them to see if they'll eat that's test now are they going to pass this test if they pass this test what creation is done we could bring now we can bring them up to to to the perfect State forever that's the test what would you think would be a good test maybe you would go up to and you'd say oh wow doesn't that look tasty doesn't look good look at that look at that thing oh or you might go up to and you say you know if you eat this you know maybe you get really rich covered you know or you might say you know oh it doesn't Des grab your emotion you know doesn't there's something about that grabs your heart like a good song or or you might look at it and say like just don't you want to just like ever been ever been had this experience you've been on in the beach in a Sunset and and you just want to dive into the sunset you just want to be part of that experience you know it's just so overwhelming that's intellectual experience by the way but it's so beautiful you know maybe say look at that you just dive into it be be at one with it like doesn't appeal to your to your intellect to you and would those be good arguments listen to The Snake's argument and tell me if you think this is a good argument or not the snake comes TOA and it and the snake says and he says to the woman even if God said ATS a gun even if God said don't eat from the the tree of the garden let he say it again the comes to the ISA and he says even if God said me call period even if God said don't eat from all the trees of the garden question what's wrong with that statement first of all it's a lie God didn't say Don't eat from all the trees of the garden God said eat from all the trees of the guarded right but just for one that's true good point what else what else grammatically is wrong with that sentence what what's your first name again what's your first name what it sh Shen Shen what's what's last oh okay sh even even even so say it how would it work even if God said don't even if God said don't eat from all the fruit all the trees of the garden what did you say is wrong with that yeah there's a comma even if God said don't eat from all the trees of the garden even if God said yeah so so uh go on go on he stops grammatically it's wrong even if God said don't eat from all the trees of the even even when you start even you got to finish it even if God said don't eat from the Trees of the garden comma but well he's a snake go ahead and eat you know but whatever it is he he leaves it hanging all he say even if God said all he said even if God said so and you know what she should say back she should say back you're right that's why I'm not doing it because God said and not only that he had such better arguments he could have said look how beautiful it is you know look how it's so tempting get rich from it and you want to you just want to be one with it it's so it's like a sunset you know go go for it that's the best argument he could come the crafty snake the Nash who is the Sutton whose job is to T mankind who has all wisdom of God you know all the wisdom he needs before him the best argument he can give is even if God said don't eat and he stops he wanted to engage on conversation but the argument is so weak even if God said don't eat I'm thinking if he would have approached her with all the other sentences she would have just totally ignored him oh he's want he wants me to do something wrong but here he's like engaging her conversation he said something that needs a question what did you just say I I I mean I just read it to you again every time I read this I'm like it says let you said says the word means even even if God said call to God even if God said like who cares what God Said you know well I care what God Said God's God that's an argument even if God said even if God that's the worst argument could possibly give give to make me eat I'm not going to eat it because God said no and that's the best argument he could give what's going on in this story to me it's it's as if um there is no acknowledgement whether like who's God basically that's my understanding like God just created them they're in the sixth just created two or three hours before two hours before God they're intimately close with God who is he what is he what made me so what but but yeah but my TOA but they're very aware of God they're very aware of God they're very aware and that's the best AR even if God said don't eat that's exactly why I'm not going to eat because God said what is the snake what's your first name again I know I know you're from um my so I was I think that because they were so because the S was so weird of Hashem and so Weare of the fact that you know Hashem is there I don't think he I think he didn't he knew that he had to do this job it was his job to do it and but he didn't really want to do it and he was trying to give her instead like giving her a chance like not giving her giving your sh easier so that she would refuse you know that she wouldn't so that she wouldn't go against so so the only only I hear what you're saying you're saying that he's trying to give her help or help her not to do it so to speak yeah the only thing is I where I would I hear what you're saying I appreciate it where I would disagree is that the job the job of the suton is to make a real test for us because if it's not a real test then how is the reward that we receive for passing it's something really substantial there has to be something that really challenged the core of who we are otherwise it's not a real test it has to be a real test and he's giving the best possible test that he could think of that he knows you know with all his wisdom he's the he's the the best thing he can say is even if God said don't eat and he stops as if to apply so what you know how is that the best possible argument you can come up with now I'm going to ask one more question then before we we put it start putting it together question is like this you know I have a bread maker at home supposing I set my bread maker to go off at 10: a.m. and um my bread maker goes off at 10: a.m. and I say to myself you know you went off at 10:00 a.m. I'm not happy with that and so I take my bread maker I pull out its legs I rip the cord out of the wall I open the window and I throw it out the window would that be a Nutty thing to do yes why would that be a Nutty thing to do besides just being a Nutty thing to do why would why is that really a Nutty who is the one who said it I'm the one who said it to go over at 10 a.m. does the bread maker have a mind of its own no it's a robot it can only do exactly what I program it to do like our computers correct there's a question does an angel have free will does it angels on some level are robots now I I'll Define it more clearly they're not really robots they really do have free will to an extent however because the reality of God Is So in front of them they therefore have no free will you hear what I'm saying if God were to reveal himself right now before us would we still have free will no because his reality would be so clear we could only do that which he wants us to do and that's why God conceals himself before the First Act of Creations when he created man with a simps he closed he hid himself in order to allow room for us to have free choice right an angel in reality does not have free choice because the reality of God is before them in essence really they have as much free choice as a robot because there's no free choice they can only do go that which God wants them to do question who is the one who told God to test God told us satest God question why you punish him how can he punish him for doing his will the same way I can't take my bread maker rip off its legs throw it out the window it would be a ridiculous act because I'm the one who programmed it how can God punish an angel who he assigned the job of testing then maybe you'll tell me well he went too far no it can't be he only can do that which is in the parameters of that which he was programmed to do that's a that's an angel there's no go there's no free choice to go beyond what you're supposed to do there's only doing the job the job here was to appear as as a snake speak to them engage them in dialogue and find the best argument you can to get them to eat he did that brilliantly was he happy he failed I dare say no probably not but he did his job perfectly so how could God punish him is that a good question that's good question but maybe maybe he did more than more than just that what else can he do to he's do your can your computer do anything more than that which is programmed to do Sarah can Sarah's computer has a mind it own I'm aware of that yes it does it does her phone all the sorts of her electronic device but most of ours can only do exactly that which we program it to do that's all that's all that an angel can do nothing more but you said they're not programmed they have free will they have free will but in essence the Free Will is so so taken away because of the reality of God so the Satan basically possessed the snake not possessed was God placed God not possessed possess sounds like spooky God placed God placed the Satan in this being called The Snake and that was in order he was in this that's being called the snake with what's that it was a snake it was a snake that could walk a snake or it was a snake that can walk and talk he can engage you in very high level intellectual conversation and and and you're not supposed to be surprised by that not supposed to be oh this is weird supposed to like this is very natural yeah sir is it you got pleasure out of it maybe you got pleasure well that's what we said the Su never gets pleasure when we do what's wrong he's God's angel God wants that we should be tested but that we should pass the test he only wants God's desire there's no personal desire what that maybe he disrespected God how could he disrespect God he's Pro he's programmed to do exactly God wants there is no free choice but Angels we're higher than Angels We Have free choice they don't have free choice we do maybe he just want to check on which level just P up like this like start from the low and go up you know I think we want to finish with a suspect question question a snake snake was an [Music] example s good keep that thought in mind um could it be that it was created for that purpose in that form and want to complete it purpose and you know job is turn into the form that we know as I mean it kind of weird good good point you're right did it look like the snake that we have today I dare say No in fact that's what I'm saying he walked and talked he stood straight up and and naturally engaged it in conversation like this is natural there something very you know appealing about it you know very so so let just one more Let me let me just go a little F in the story I'm going to go right to the end and listen what happens at the end tell me which one of these is not like the other do you ever watch sessioning Street remember the game which one of these is not like the other okay we're going to play that game now which one of these is not like the other so God comes after the eight of the eights and and God calls to where are you what what's happened to you you've changed doesn't mean where are you it means it means what was before me is something different where what what's happened to you I heard your voice I was afraid I'm naked and I was afraid and I hid and God says God says who told you that you're naked the tree which I commanded you not to eat from did you eat from it says the woman who you gave to stand beside me who says the woman that you gave to me if advised me and I atat it so by the way you know it's the First Act of of of K of ingratitude in the world by the way right yeah so I got your question wrong I thought you said why was punishing the snake it is right right that's what no the question the question I want to hear in which these three dialogues we're going to hear a dialogue between Hashem andam hasem and and hasem and the snake and I want you to tell me which of these dialogues is not like the other okay so first thing first dialogue is God says to Adam and he asks Adam the question and he he says you know did he says did you eat from did you eat from the tree which I commanded you not to eat from of course he answers with a tremendous statement of of of lack of gratitude says the woman that you gave me told me to do it tremendous Act of a tremendous he should have said right it's the First Act of of ingratitude in the world right there then he goes to k then he comes to kava and he says and God said to the woman what's this that you did the seduced me he deceived me he convinced me and I ate then and God says to the snake because you did this cursed you will be from all the animals the the field on your belly will you craw and dirt you will eat there be hatred between you and between the woman question three dialogues God inam God in God in the snake which one of these three is not like the other the snake is not a dialog is not the same between between and the snake between what the the conversation is different why because um he said to to to Adam did you eat of the tree I told you not to okay and then he said to Eve why did you do this words Okay let's listen carefully here listen again's conversation is theam he says he says did you eat from the tree which I command you not to eat that's he says to to Eve he says what did you do and to the snake he says because you did this which one of them is not like the other the other ones is question right away to Adam he asked a question did you eat from the tree that may not eat to Eve he says do you know what why did you do this and to the snake he says because you did this why doesn't he ask the snake why did the snake do it because he told the snake to do it because he told the snake to do it he doesn't have to ask the snake why he did it he programmed the snake to do it there's no need to ask the snake to show punishment this is what's going to happen to you snake is not human the snake is an angel it's not supposed to be a human body snake are you with me everybody good go ahead goad don't guys are we good are we good is you hear the question you hear the question it's a good question yeah it's a good question good question I want the answer I want the answer next week we'll talk about what [Music] the okay okay so so you hear us very very good very it's beautiful you know when when you're so careful the language of it to Worlds begin to open up and you got to know Hebrew for this to do that in English does not work of course you have to understand the text the text is speaking on so many levels and so many layers and sometimes just an analysis of the simple meaning the words give you such depth so obviously to OD he ask a question to eeve ask a question the snake there's no question how could he ask the snake why he did it I programmed you to do it you're my bread maker can't ask my bread maker why you went off at 10: a.m. I programmed you I can't ask the snake why you tested Adam this way even this way you're programmed so what what's going on over here in this story let's see if we can put it together together tied together a little bit so I'm going to say to you right now is really r h sh Rafa H great German thinker approach to the story I was awaken to it by my friend D David foreman and I'd like to share it with you first thing we see is we had a question that God says that he does not want a to be alone one would have thought right there he should have made it you he doesn't do that he has Adam go to all the animals in creation and date them as it were take them out right like we we made fun and Rashi says it's only when Eve was created that he finally say oh Z finally I found some I can relate to why did God have to make him go to that exercise I'm going to suggest have her suggests it's because God Was preparing Adam and Eve for the test of the steak God took the suon places it in this animal called the Nash this creature called the Nash now who is this creature this creature is an animal or disguised as an animal that can walk and talk you know it's almost like you could imagine like in Walt Disney you have like an animal that that kind of be a friend and can talk to you and and almost give you a perspective of what the the animal kingdom is like that's the was Nash was was almost humanlike in the way it could stand up and and and walk there's never been an animal like that in history before and you're not supposed to be surprised by it it's other words there's an animal in creation that's like you and you know what God the test is the test that the snake says is very simple the snake says even if God said don't eat what does he mean by even if God said don't eat so we asked the question and said wait that's a terrible that's a terrible way to make them eat cuz he should have said back the reason I'm not going to eat because God said he should have used a more cunning argument like look how beautiful it is the refers explains like this even if God said put the emphasis on the word said even if God said don't eat who cares what God Said even if God said don't eat dot dot dot meaning to imply who cares what God Said not who cares what God said because God said it but who cares what God said why do you have to listen to what God says there's another way God speaks to you you know what that way is he speaks to you from your animal side just like God speaks to me the animal through Instinct and drives and passions God speaks to you through those instincts and drives and passions as well don't you have what I have I'm an animal when I look at that tree I have a desire for it I want it it arouses all of my C labatory glands don't you experience that as well you're also an animal why do you have to listen to God's word that's one way God communicates to you it's true but doesn't God also commun Comm unicate to you through the words of the animal inside you this is the first day of creation what are you are you fully a soul are you an animal which is the more important part maybe they're equal who cares what God Said don't listen to the word listen to the animal I have an animal will tell you what I think I think you should go eat it and enjoy it what's wrong with that didn't God create those thrives didn't God create the pleasure didn't God cause that when you see such a thing you start salting and you start having desires and looking at it and getting hungry and and want and just want a possess it and be part didn't God create that drive what's wrong with following the animal and who you are God created that as well what a brilliant argument and she goes ahead and she eats now I dare say that the reason why God first had Adam go to all the animals to see if the animal could be his wife was to prepare him just for that test because he knows that's the test the nak is going to use he's programmed the nakes for that test but in order to help Adam fight that he first wants him to go to the Animal Kingdom and see the animal kingdom is not him I want you to try to find your mate in the animal kingdom see how different you are from the Animal Kingdom because when the nak comes to you and says why did you listen to the animal in you and not what God's word is the animal is also what God created those drives and feelings I want you to be ready for the test and say wait but I'm not an animal I tried to find my make with all the animals I couldn't find it but it's a very convincing argument it's a very real argument a very real argument and the Nash convinces and she eats now it's interesting God then goes at the end of the story and he goes to UT he says why did you do it of course he expressed a tremendous lack of UNG gratitude he blames it on his wife he goes to Eve why did you do he deceive me and then he goes to the said because you did this doesn't ask the why he programmed the but then he seems to take the Nash and what does he do punish seems to punish we're bothered by the how can he punish because only do want to show example so this says something so brilliant who says there was a punishment who said it was a punishment why do you say it was a punishment does it sounds like a punishment it sounds like a punishment told you not but maybe it's not at all all that he's doing he's saying to the Nash I'm going to totally transform you you stood upright you look human you're not going to crawl in your belly he says you're going to have to live in the dust where there's no taste no pleasure no enjoyment all your days and there's going to be hatred between you and the woman and between her seed and between you said the human being is always going want to trample your head and you're going to always try to bite its heel their heal who says not a punishment what God is doing with the snake is he's taking this being which was so humanoid which was so like a person and was like an animal that can say join me in the animal kingdom and he's taking that species now and he's making it so unhuman and there's no animal in creation today which is more unhuman than the snake you know we like going to the Bron zoo and seeing the gorillas like we talked about because we're fascinated about how similar they are to us we like going to the reptile cage why because we're fascinated about how different they are reptiles are not us we're kind of repulsed by the side of snakes nobody likes snakes except of course your Lord vmore but he was a weirdo right the snake is the most unhuman animal out there it's an animal which animals fear not just human beings God took this creature which said join me in the animal kingdom be an animal and God reduced it to be so unhuman likee that Adam and K and you and I will'll never make the mistake again to think that the real essence of who we are is the animal the story is really a story about the definition of which voice you listen to in life you listen to God's voice which is the voice that speaks through Torah and the brain and the Nish or do we listen to the voice of passions and drives and instincts which we also possess which the animal possesses it's a test of of God's voice versus the animal voice and they're both God's creation and I dare say on this first day of creation it wasn't so clear as to which was primary and perhaps this argument is not dead at all in the world by the way a a a friend of mine told me that one time he was listening to a late night talk show and there was a discussion with a young man from the Christian right and this man was explaining why he has chosen celibacy before marriage and the the um the interviewer confronted him with a theological bomb and said to him you know you're choosing celibacy before marriage didn't God create those drives why are you inhibiting the god the drive that God created whose argument was that SN the snakes this argument as to which voice is primary and they're both God's voices is very alive and well today and of course the lesson of the story is really that really what defines us as human beings is the ability to listen to God's voice to hear God's word and use it to harness and to control and to rule the passions not have our passions drives and instincts which are also God's gifts rule us and that's why of course we say in Hebrew the word Mel which means a king is somebody who Mo Mel me is brain right is above his La his heart his emotion and both are above his Clum which means his kidneys his lower part of who he is and that's why God of course creates the human being to be the only animal creation which stands straight up to teach us that head God's word has to be above heart and both have to be above passions where's the animal kingdom of course we see animals walk on all fours complete line between head heart and passions there's no test to overcome they're purely instinctual andate but the snake's not punished you can't punish a robot the snake is merely made it an example of to teach other men even you and I that the argument of the snake used who cares what God said listen to God's Instinct that he created that argument is baseless God takes the snake he cuts off the legs of the snake as if to say that argument has no legs to stand on that argu has no support this animal which with once the glory of the animal kingdom is now going to crawl on its crawl in its belly there is no support there's no basis in what the snake tried to use to convince you and on this first day of creation Adam and Eve had to confront the very essence of who we are we have instincts we have passions we have drives these are all very good when harnessed in the service of God but primarily the voice that we have to listen to and the voice that makes us really human is we listen to God's voice and we're Guided by God word and we use that to rule the animal in who we are yeah questions yeah D so you're saying that that God did not program the way the snake would persuade I I think I think this is exactly how he did program the snake to do it then why would he other words it's a brilliant it's words it's a brilliant test he was hoping that aom would pass the test free choice would would allow them also to pass the test but failure in the test now says I have to take this animal which presented the idea that you can be an animal the animal is the primary voice I have to say that argument the snake used is baseless has no legs to stand on and I have to make the snake so unhuman likee so unattractive that you'll never be foed again and we never be Fooled Again how can we fail such a test how can you fail such a test I mean you were prepared for it so God was trying to prepare him that's why God said try to make with the animals see if you're an animal see if you could find you see Comfort the go directly to the he what he did not like he found a woman who did not who wasn't prepared she didn't go oh so right so so the whose job it is to test yeah he went right to the woman right he went not to Adam so some say that was Adam's fault that he should have prepared her better maybe didn't prepare for her or maybe didn't focus on what said the whole question as who is primarily responsible some say both of them but went to could have withstood the test but he was supposed to teach what he learned his job was to prepare for this test I learned uh once um how to parent so over there they said that um there's a rule don't butter up the couch rule that if you're leaving the house and you tell the kids make sure you don't butter up the couch you better be sure when you come back there's going to be butter all over the couch just gave them an idea yeah they would have on their own never ever thought of putting butter on the couch but because you came and you told them make sure you don't put butter on the couch so now that's it now they have to so you're suggesting by what so I'm saying if Hashem maybe would have never even mentioned the tree they would have never even touched the tree but here is even more complicated because imagine I would have told my kids don't put butter on the couch and then I would have sent my neighbor over with a whole bunch of butter and say doesn't this butter look really good it would look so beautiful on the couch I don't know it just seems like God set them up it it was a test it was a test there had to be a real test God wanted to give the ultimate reward and give them the Ultimate gift