Mystical Biology
Commenting on the verse, “When a woman conceives and gives birth to a male,” our Sages state, “If the man emits seed first, [his wife] will give birth to a female; if the woman emits seed first, she will give birth to a male.”
However, this pattern applies only in the present era. In the Ultimate Future, the children born will be of masculine quality even when “the man emits seed first,” as stated in Torah Or, interpreting the verse, “And of Zion, it will be said, ‘This man and that man was born in her.’” The wording, “This man and that man,” can be understood as meaning that, in that future era, even when “a man emits [seed first],” the woman will give birth to a male.
The Power of Joy
We find a reflection of this concept even in the present era. A maamar in Likkutei Torah discussing this week’s Torah reading explains that when a person joyously performs mitzvos, even though the inspiration to do so comes from Above – thus, figuratively, “the male is emitting seed first” – nevertheless, the love for G-d “conceived,” i.e., awakened within him, is masculine in nature, i.e., of a stronger, more enduring nature. The rationale for the departure from the norm is that the joy in performing mitzvos on this material plane also awakens joy above. Since “joy breaks through limitations,” all the restrictions and structured patterns arising from the order of creation are erased. This includes also the pattern that “if the man emits seed first, [his wife] gives birth to a female.”
To give an analogy: When a mortal king is joyous, he goes beyond all his ordinary patterns of behavior, ignoring the existing rules and protocols. Although under ordinary circumstances, he is accessible only to a select few, in a time of great joy, he will make himself accessible to everyone, to the small as well as to the great. Similarly, through joy, G-dliness that transcends limitation is revealed and all boundaries are removed.
Accessing the Essence
There is an inner, deeper dimension to this concept: The joy in the observance of the mitzvos is aroused by contemplating their superlative quality – that through their observance, one elicits Divine light that transcends the entire framework of all existence, surpassing even the revelation of Divine light that souls experience in the afterlife, the spiritual Garden of Eden. In this vein, our Sages state, “One hour of repentance and good deeds in this world surpasses the entire life of the World to Come.”
“The entire life of the World to Come” represents the pleasure experienced by the souls in the afterlife. Souls and their experience of pleasure are still within the realm of created entities and, by definition, created entities are limited. By contrast, the mitzvos are G-d’s will, and He is completely unlimited. Thus, observing mitzvos enables a person to step beyond his inherent limits and establish a bond with G-d’s infinity. Contemplating this concept will infuse a person’s Divine service with joy and inspire his heart with gladness.
When All Existing Patterns Will Fall Away
In a similar manner, we can also understand this concept as it will be manifest in the Ultimate Future: Since in the Ultimate Future there will be a revelation of G-d’s Essence, all limitations will be removed. Therefore, the promise – “Of Zion, it will be said, ‘This man and that man was born in her’” – will also be fulfilled. Accordingly, even when “the man emits seed first,” the child born will be of masculine quality.
Two Talmuds – Two Perspectives
Based on the above, we can also understand a difference of opinion between the Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi regarding the determination of the gender – whether male or female – of a fetus. The Talmud Bavli states that prayer can alter the gender of a fetus until 40 days after conception. However, after 40 days, the gender of the fetus has been established, and it is futile to pray to change it. By contrast, the Talmud Yerushalmi maintains that even after forty days – and according to another opinion, even when the woman is already in labor – prayer can bring about a change in a child’s gender.
In light of the spiritual concepts discussed previously, the difference of opinion can be explained as follows: According to the Talmud Bavli, once the fetus is already formed, prayer is futile. However, according to the Talmud Yerushalmi, prayer can help at any time.
The difference in approach between the two Talmuds depends on the spiritual climate that governs them. Our Sages interpret the verse, “You made me dwell in dark places,” as referring to the Talmud Bavli, and they explain that the teachings of this text were affected by the spiritual darkness that characterizes exile. As such, it is characterized by the continuous raising of questions and attempts to resolve seeming contradictions within the sources on which it focuses. This indicates the effect of the restrictions of nature.
By contrast, the Talmud Yerushalmi is a reflection and a foretaste of the revelation of the Ultimate Future. From that perspective, there are no limitations whatsoever.
When Worlds Mirror Each Other
As has been discussed several times, every physical entity, particularly, a concept stated in the Torah, also exists in the spiritual realm. Indeed, it is from the motif in the spiritual realms that the physical manifestation evolves. The concept of male and female, with the details…
