From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
The Midrash recounts the sequence of events that led to Adam and Eve's eating from the Tree of Knowledge, as narrated in this week's Torah portion, Bereishit: First the serpent approached Eve, and asked if G-d had forbidden them to eat all the fruit in the Garden of Eden. She replied that they were permitted to eat any fruit, except for those growing on the Tree of Knowledge: "G-d has said, 'You shall not eat of it, and you shall not touch it, lest you die.'"
When the serpent heard this reply, he pushed Eve towards the Tree and told her, "Surely you will not die."
The Midrash explains that Eve's mistake was adding on to G-d's command. The prohibition was only against eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, yet Eve added that they weren't allowed to touch it. It was this initial digression that enabled the serpent to lead her astray, and later, for her to cause Adam to sin.
Our Sages tell us that the reason Eve made this mistake was that she didn't hear the command directly from G-d; it was transmitted only second-hand, through Adam. Had she heard it directly from G-d, not only would she not have sinned and led her husband to sin, she would have kept Adam from transgressing.
This is why, at the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai, G-d commanded Moses to give the Torah first to the Jewish women, then to the men. "Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob," G-d told him, referring to the Jewish women; "and tell the people of Israel," referring to the Jewish men. In this manner, G-d ensured that the Jewish women would always be on the forefront of Torah observance throughout the generations, and from their perspective, "correct" the sin of the Tree of Knowledge.
The special advantage of Jewish women - the ability to extend a protective and positive influence on their husbands - is derived from the way Eve was created, which was different from Adam. Adam was created from the earth, from a base substance, whereas Eve was created from Adam's rib, from the body of a human being.
Our Sages also interpret the verse "And the L-rd G-d built (vayiven) the rib" as relating to the "extra measure of wisdom (bina) that G-d has given women over men." Because women are on a higher spiritual level, they possess this ability to guard them.
This underscores how crucial it is to provide Jewish girls with a Torah-true education, instilling in them pride and a sense of joy in their Judaism. For the Jewish woman is the foundation of the home, and the positive influence she wields is very powerful.
Reprinted from the Parshat Bereishis 5761/2000 edition of L’Chaim. Adapted from Volume 3 of Likutei Sichot.
G-d’s “Stamp” is Truth
In the beginning G-d created (Bereishit bara Elokim) (Gen. 1:1)
In the same way that every author alludes to himself on the opening page of his work, so too has G-d set His seal at the very beginning of the Torah. G-d's "stamp," as it were, is "emet," truth - arrived at by rearranging the final letters of the words "Bereishit bara Elokim." (Rabbi Bunim of Pshischa)
