Bereshit 2016

Adam and Eve: Two Stories, Two Personalities

In this week's Torah portion, Berashit, the first humans, Chava and Adam are created.  The story of their creation is told twice in the Torah, the first in chapter 1 and the second in chapter 2, with many differences.  In the first story Adam and Eve are created at the same time in the image of G-d.  They are commanded to harness the world and rule over the creatures.   End of story.  In the second telling, Adam is created first from dirt.  G-d then breathes into him the 'breath of life.”   Adam is lonely.  G-d tries to find him a mate by creating all the animals but to no avail.  Finally G-d makes Eve from Adam's side and Adam immediately realizes that she is right for him.   G-d puts them in the Garden of Eden to watch over it and tend it.  The snake comes, they sin and are exiled.  According to Rabbi Joseph Solovetchik these two very different stories are metaphors for different types of humans, different paradigmatic personalities and approaches to life and the world.
This Shabbat give some thought to which story resonates most with you and why.  What can we learn from each about how to live our lives and how to achieve holiness and fulfillment?  May it be a Shabbat of great beginnings!