Vegetables and Fruit

Today's summary comes from Talya, who did a fabulous job on her Chumash report!

Rashi says that man could eat all vegetables but couldn't kill an animal and eat it.

Could man eat an animal that died on its own or did Hashem forbid him from eating all animals?

The Gur Aryeh says that they couldn't eat animals that died on their own. The could eat no animals at all. This ensured that they would take care of their animals.

The Mizrachi says that animals who died on their own could be eaten.

Is there a difference between what man and animal could eat?

Ramban says that man could eat seeds and fruit. Animal could only eat herbiage (grass and leaves). Neither could eat meat.

Why did this change after Noach?

Gur Aryeh says that animals recieved a Bracha after the Mabul, so that would ensure the perpetuation of the species even though they're eaten.

Ramban said that because Noach saved the animals, people could now eat them. But we can only eat their bodies, not their Nefushim, which lives in the blood. This is why we have Mitzvot about Shechitah, salting animals, and covering the blood of killed animals.

More Than a Blessing

Once again, a summary from Rebecca!

What's the difference between the blessing given to animals and the blessing given to man?
Animals are only given a blessing. Man is given both a blessing and a mitzvah.

To be fruitful and multiply:
The mitzvah is to get married. The brocha is to be given children.

To fill the land:
The mitzvah is to spread out the all over, so people will be serving Hashem in all four corners of the world. The brocha is the ability to live anywhere in the world and in all different environments.

To conquer:
The mitzvah is to use the world's resources in a responsible way. The brocha is to be able to use the earth's resources.

The final brocha is to rule over the animals. This last mitzvah is to be worthy of ruling over the animals, by being a man--a human being--instead of following your physical side and being like an animal.

Thought and Action

Rebecca provides today's summary.

Think, understand, and gather reasoning to act!
Man has bicherah. He makes decisions based on his thought and choice. This ability allows him to strengthen his image of Hashem, which means his midos and deeds.

Seforno explains that Man is like the angels because we both think. Man is like Hashem, because we have bicherah.

It's precious that we were created in the image of G-d, but it is even more precious that we know we are created in Hashem's image. This is makes it possible to understand that we are capable of doing whatever we put our minds to! Don't underestimate yourself.

The Rambam says that man has two parts: the spiritual part(coming from the heavens) and the physical part (coming from the land.)

If we are worthy, we can rule over animals and the world.

Royalty, Truth and Peace

Haviva provides today's summary.

Kli Yakar- Why is this the first time that the Pasuk uses the Royal We? Before the creation of man, G-d was a moshel-ruler/dictator but after man was created G-d became a melech-king because man was the only creation with bechira and the ability to voluntarily accept Hashem's rule.

This was the first Rosh Hashana of creation.

Shir Shel Yom- talks about Hashem becoming a melech.

Medrash Raba- when G-d asked the malachim about creating man, the malachim took a vote to see if man should be created. Chesed said yes because man will do kindness and Tzedek said yes because man will do righteous things. But Emet said no because man will lie and Shalom said no because man will fight. So the vote is tied. Hashem took Emet and threw him to the earth. The malachim asked Hashem how he could throw Emet away? Because truth is the seal of Hashem.

In the heavens, emet means completely perfect and true and not contradictory. Man cannot be created with heavens version of the truth because man is full of contradictions because he consists of physical and spiritual parts. Man has to develop his spiritual side so that he can unify his physical and spiritual sides and eventually achieve the heavenly truth.

Abarbanel- the word Tzelem (BTzalmeinu) comes from the word Tzel which means shadow. We are like a shadow of G-d and we share some of his middot.
Medrash Raba- We were given the middot of Hashem so that we know that our deeds should mirror his actions.

Lots of Blessings

Thanks for today's summary, Rivka.

According to Rashi:

~Who received the bracha and why? All animals created on day 5. They're trapped and eaten so they need a bracha.

~ Who didn't receive a bracha and why? All animals created on day 6, because the snake took away their bracha. Since the snake was going to be cursed later, and if it had been blessed now it couldn't have been cursed, all the animals created with the snake lost out.
But they got their bracha later after the mabul.

~ What exactly is the bracha? To have many offspring.

According to Ramban:

~Who received a bracha and why? Animals on day 5 and day 6. Because they needed a bracha because only 2 of each creature were created.

~ Who didn't receive a bracha and why? Plants, because when they were created they were created all over the world, many plants, not just two of each.

~ What exactly is the bracha? Same as what Rashi said. He brings proof from Avraham Avinu.

Shir Shel Yom Day #5: "Lets praise Hashem with our strength" - the Livyasan shows the greatness of Hashem, and all the many species and creatures created on this day shows Hashem's greatness.

Livyatan

Haviva tackles the Livyatan in today's summary.

The Maharal explains the Livyatan from a non-physical perspective: Female is associated with Lev (heart) and Male is associated with Sechel (intellect). The male livyatan represents the concept of intellect-that a person does what he thinks he should do. The female livyatan represents concept of emotion and desire-that a person does what he wants to do. When Hashem killed the female livyatan, it represented the weakening of the connection between intellect and emotions. This means that after Hashem killed the female livyatan, a person doesn't always want to do what he knows he should do. The feast for the Tzadikkim represents a time when the connection between intellect and emotion will be fully restored so that there will no longer be a struggle between the two.

Malbim comments on the fact that it says Bara (create) in this pasuk. Bara is always used to when something new is created. What was the new thing that was created? a creature with Nefesh Chaya-a spark of life. And why doesn't it say Vayihi Chen on this day? Because the creation of Nefesh Chaya isn't complete until Day 6 when all the other animals are created.

Both Worlds

Jessica Swedarsky sent in today's summary. Thanks, Jessica!

Isaac gave a blessing to Yaakov that was all about the physical world, because the blessing was originally for Essav. Isaac felt it would be dangerous for Yaakov to have both the physical world and the spiritual world. That the physical world would pull him away from the spiritual.

But since Essav would not use the physical blessings in the right way, to help Yaakov reach his spiritual greatness, Rivka knew that the blessings had to go to Yaakov. So in fact, Yaakov has portions in both worlds, but he must remember that his primary portion is the world to come.

The passuk says that Hashem "Gave the lights." What does it mean, He gave them? It was a free gift, no strings attached. The sun is unconditional even if we don’t deserve it, it will always be there.

Song of the day- “Hashem is the Hashem of vengeance.” Wrong doings don’t go unnoticed and unpunished (i.e. the moon).