Although Bereshis was read last Shabbos, I did not get a chance to write a Divrei Simcha last week (due to Succos). Therefore, this week is a double dose: one for Parshas Bereshis and one for Parshas Noach.

“And G-d created man in His image. In the form of G-d, He created him. Man and woman, He created them.” (Bereshis 1:27)

The above statement discusses the creation of man, but the commentators point out that it seems to be grammatically incorrect. It begins by speaking about the creation of a singular being, but ends by talking in plural (created them). Rashi explains the reason for this difference. Originally, man and woman were created together as one being with two faces. Adam and Chava were connected together and the man with his wife were one. Then G-d decided it was not good for this human to live alone and woman was separated from the man, forming two beings.

If a person decided he wanted one of his arms to harm his other arm, it would be silly, because even though they are separate body parts, the one body would feel pain. No person in their right mind would cause harm to himself. The same is with a husband and a wife. They are really one, but they were separated into two bodies. Therefore, a man and woman should not cause any physical nor emotional pain to each other, as pain to one really causes pain to both of them. When a husband and wife fight, it is like two body parts fighting. Of course, this is easier said than done, but if a person works on himself to think about it, he will develop an attachment to his partner like they are one. A person needs to constantly remember that G-d created Adam and Chava from the same, one body and He also created every couple the same way. A husband and wife are one unit and therefore should not try to cause any harm to themselves.

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“He sent out the raven and it went out, going to and fro.” Bereshis 8:7

The Gemara in Sanhedrin explains why the raven would not fly away from the big boat after the Flood. Noach came to the raven to send him away and the raven started arguing with Noach. If any other human was on the boat, he would not have understood what the raven was saying, but G-d blessed Noach with the ability to understand the language of the birds. The raven told Noach that the only reason he wanted to send him specifically was because Noach had an affection for his mate, Mrs. Raven. The raven felt Noach wanted to get rid of him so Noach could steal his wife. Noach responded to the raven calling him a wicked one. Before entering the big boat, all of the creatures were told they were not to live with their mate. Noach faithfully followed this instruction. How could the raven think Noach was after his wife, when he did not even live with his own wife during the last year and this is the reason Noach called him wicked.

Our Sages point out that, in actuality, there was one being that broke the rule of not to live with his wife – it was the raven. We see a lesson in psychology from this Gemara. When one does something wrong, that action is constantly on his mind. He thinks others are going to do the same thing he did. The raven thought Noach would live with his wife, because the raven committed the same sin.

This is an important idea we must constantly think about when we are judging others. Before we jump to a conclusion about the negative ways others have acted, we should think if we have committed anything similar to what they have done. Is it possible we are seeing their bad actions because we are guilty of the same crime? Before pointing the finger at someone else, we should make sure we are not like the raven.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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