Analyzing the Torah every week through the lens of the classic and modern Jewish commentators, we learn not only about what the text is saying but about ourselves as well. The Torah is the origin story of the Jewish people. We are the stories we tell about ourselves. Origin stories are especially important when it comes to heroes and villains, but that is not what I will be discussing. I will be discussing my own personal origin stories. The origin story of the universe and humanity are at the start of this week’s Parsha. We are told that all of humanity, over 6 billion people descend from a single couple Adam and Chava. The Kabbalah teaches us that the way something starts, its beginning, is important in determining the entire course of the endeavor. Adam faced some difficulty in his origin story, he was expelled from paradise.
Last year my first Shabbat as a Rabbinic intern also had a rocky start. Shabbat was starting soon and I was running late when I knocked on the door to the address of the house I would be staying at. My host, Mr. Pollack answered the door. "Hello, I am Daniel and am staying with you for Shabbat." Then something strange happened. Instead of inviting me into his home, he just stared at me and didn't move. It was extremely awkward. Usually people tell you to come in, but he stood there blocking the doorway, staring at me.
I wondered what kind of community is this?
In what felt like 10 minutes, but was probably 10 seconds of staring, I maneuvered past him through the doorway into his home, and his wife calls out from another room “he is staying next door!” I realized that I was sent the wrong house number and showed up at 52 when I was supposed to stay at 54!
Coincidentally at the same exact time, the Pollack's in 52 were waiting for their Shabbat guest to knock on the door. A cousin, who also happened to be named Daniel. When I knocked on Mr. Pollack's door and introduced myself as Daniel, he was wondering who is this guy pretending to be my cousin. I am clearly not his cousin. When he stood in the doorway I was wondering why he wouldn't let me in. So we both stood there looking at each other wondering what was going on. Beginnings can be confusing!
The first and only girl I asked out said no, twice. Sometimes beginnings are difficult and confusing. Spiderman,Superman and Batman all lost close family members in their origin stories. But that adversity and overcoming it was what made them great. What we do after we face adversity in our origin stories is what determines the trajectory of our journey. Adam and Chava did not give up after being exiled from the Garden. They began a society and created the human race.
The girl I asked out who said no, we have been married for six years and have two kids, Emmett and Emunah.
Last year my first Shabbat as a Rabbinic intern also had a rocky start. Shabbat was starting soon and I was running late when I knocked on the door to the address of the house I would be staying at. My host, Mr. Pollack answered the door. "Hello, I am Daniel and am staying with you for Shabbat." Then something strange happened. Instead of inviting me into his home, he just stared at me and didn't move. It was extremely awkward. Usually people tell you to come in, but he stood there blocking the doorway, staring at me.
I wondered what kind of community is this?
In what felt like 10 minutes, but was probably 10 seconds of staring, I maneuvered past him through the doorway into his home, and his wife calls out from another room “he is staying next door!” I realized that I was sent the wrong house number and showed up at 52 when I was supposed to stay at 54!
Coincidentally at the same exact time, the Pollack's in 52 were waiting for their Shabbat guest to knock on the door. A cousin, who also happened to be named Daniel. When I knocked on Mr. Pollack's door and introduced myself as Daniel, he was wondering who is this guy pretending to be my cousin. I am clearly not his cousin. When he stood in the doorway I was wondering why he wouldn't let me in. So we both stood there looking at each other wondering what was going on. Beginnings can be confusing!
The first and only girl I asked out said no, twice. Sometimes beginnings are difficult and confusing. Spiderman,Superman and Batman all lost close family members in their origin stories. But that adversity and overcoming it was what made them great. What we do after we face adversity in our origin stories is what determines the trajectory of our journey. Adam and Chava did not give up after being exiled from the Garden. They began a society and created the human race.
The girl I asked out who said no, we have been married for six years and have two kids, Emmett and Emunah.