Miscalculation or Sin? If Not Now, When?

 


Dear Friends,

As we have begun the Torah reading cycle again, we have just read the first portion in Genesis.

Rabbi Abraham Twerski of blessed memory, a noted rabbi and psychiatrist  makes the following point in his book, "Living Each Week."  He suggests that when Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of the tree, it was a miscalculation rather than a sin.

My interpretation of this thought is that when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, they had no clue that the knowledge of good and evil would now require them to do something about the evil in the world. I believe that they weren't hiding from G-d, as much as they were hiding from taking responsibility for righting the wrongs of our world.

We all know the quote that ignorance is bliss.  Well, they were no longer ignorant and now were aware that they had to perform acts that would help make the world a better place.  As they left the world of bliss or the Garden of Eden, they needed to go out and work for the betterment of humanity. They needed to have children who they could teach about the importance of working to improve our world.

As we all are well aware, we live in an imperfect world.  We DO have opportunities to improve our world or perform acts of tikkun olam.  I hope that we will not hide from  opportunities to get involved in activities that will improve areas in our world that are important to us.

In Pirkei Avot, we are taught that we are not required to finish the task, but neither can we desist from doing our share.  As we try to fulfill the prayers we offered for the new year, let's get busy doing something that is meaningful to us.  As Rabbi Hillel said, "if not now,when?"

Shavua tov,

Rabbi Bruce Aft

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