Ra’anana Community Kollel

The Legacy of Adam and Chava     

Rebbetzin Holly Pavlov


Rosh Hashanah is the day of the creation of man and woman. But what is it to be a human being? How do we define or live up to our humanity? Are we human because we were created body and soul, with the potential for physical and spiritual expression? Is a person a person because he or she has the power of speech and intellect? Does it matter if we use these things correctly, or is having them enough to be called human?

“What is a person that You should be mindful of one?  The child of a human being that You should appoint one?” (Tehillim 8:4) The midrash teaches that the angels argued with G-d:  Man and woman are hardly worthy of attention; let alone appointing and entrusting him or her with the Torah. (Pesikta Rabati 25). From the perspective of the angels who always do the will of G-d, human beings are failures, constantly making mistakes and therefore, unworthy of the responsibility that G-d bestowed upon them.

And indeed they are correct - the human who is simply born human is unworthy. Although he or she has intellect and the capability for elevation, this does not make him or her trustworthy of G-d’s mission. Being born a person is being born with the potential to become worthy, the ability to develop into “HaAdam”, The Human - the elevated person, the perfected G-dly being that was the purpose of the entire creation. (Alei Shor)

How do we accomplish this? How do we grow into the role required of us as human being? It is only in imitation of G-d that we can achieve that level of greatness. If we build our world with wisdom and behave with kindness and develop in midos, if we show mercy and understanding, if we appropriately value others and ourselves, then we will become the person we have the potential to become.

In the hour of final judgment, “even the conversation between husband and wife” will be revealed to us (Chagiga 5b). Even the most secret of words have an effect on the world, and seemingly insignificant actions have everlasting spiritual repercussions. The universe rests on the dealings of human beings. Yet we remain unaware of our potential greatness. We get stuck in the mundane, the silly, and the petty. We justify the words of the angels with our actions: “What is a person that You should be mindful of one?”
 
Once a year, on Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of this potential. It is on this day that we were created, and on this day that our potential is renewed. It is on this day that we must remind ourselves that each and every one of us has the capacity to be HaAdam, the crowing achievement of the universe and all that it contains. In our delight, we declare that we will imitate G-d, make Hashem Ruler in our lives. It is a day of exultation in our Monarch and in us, in our ability as humans.

It is on this day that we can proudly answer to the angels: “What is a person that You should be mindful of one?  The child of a human being that You should appoint one?” Just a little lower than the angels, and You crown the human being with honor and glory.” (Tehillim 8:4-5)

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