A Thought on Parshas Bereishis

"...afar atah v'el afar tashuv..." (3:19) "...you are dust and shall return to dust..." The Torah wants us to accept that mortal man comprises a physical, tangible body and a separate transcendent other-worldly soul. The mortal aspect is introduced in our verse - tangible man will return to dust. The transcendent aspect is hinted at in the use of the word "va'ye'hi" in the verse (2:7) "va'ye'hi ha'adam l'nefesh chaya" - 'and the first man existed as a live soul'. What is unique about this word "va'yehi"? The only other feature of Creation which is depicted with the term "va'ye'hi" is the supernal light, where the Torah says (1:3) "va'ye'hi or"- 'and light existed'. HaShem declared "ye'hi or" and then that light came into existence with "va'ye'hi or". This form of the word "to be" means "to exist", which signals endurance and permanence. The supernal light exists and was present in Genesis and continues to radiate in the high heavens. The heavens themselves, which by definition endure forever, are also depicted as "ye'hi" (1:6). Now, notice that the Torah never says during the sixth day of creation "va'ye'hi adam" - and man came into existence. This is because man, the person, does not exist for eternity. The mortal body does not endure forever. This is the meaning of our verse above which declares that tangible man is mortal and returns to dust. However, later in the Torah, well after the six days of creation were complete, we do find our verse declaring "va'ye'hi" with reference to man's enduring living soul. Only things that last are described this way, as "existing." The luminaries and the firmaments exist and endure forever, which is why they are portrayed as "ye'hi". The worldly, mundane creations are not depicted with "va'yehi" because their role and function is limited to corporeality, not to an enduring existence. The human creation is expected to make an lasting impression on this world and this life form, but also to have an enduring role in the next world, which is purely spiritual. This is why the mortal man is introduced without the word "va'ye'hi" but the immortal soul is in fact introduced as "va'ye'hi." The mortal aspect of man comes from dust and will return to dust. The soul is entrusted to us in order that we live in a manner which will promote our soul's eternity, living on beyond form and matter. That is the only authentic mode of existence. Good Shabbos. D Fox