Loving-kindness
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning ELoHYM created the
heavens and the earth.
Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heavens and of
the earth when they were created, in the day that the YHVH
ELoHYM made the earth and the heavens.
Your Midrash Navigator
The Divine Name ELoHYM usually refers to
God as Judge throughout the Torah, even human judges are sometimes
referred to as ELOHYM. This fact is not lost on the rabbis and
is the key to understanding why the Divine ineffable Name YHVH is
inserted in the concluding verse.
Midrash Rabbah – Genesis
12:15
"These are the generations of the heavens and
of the earth when they were created, in the day that the YHVH
ELoHYM made the earth and the heavens," [Why does the
creation begin with the Divine Name ELoHYM as the Creator and
end with two Names, YHVH ELoHYM when concluding the creation
story? The Midrash explains:] This may be compared to a king who had
some empty glasses. The King wondered: ' If I pour hot water into
them, they will burst; if, however, I pour cold water, they will
contract [and shatter]. ' What then did the king do? He poured in a
mixture of hot and cold water so the glasses would remain whole. So,
said the Holy One: "If I create the world on the basis of mercy
alone, its sins will be oppressive; on the basis of judgment alone,
how would the world be able to exist?. I will create it with justice
and mercy together and then, maybe, it will be able to stand!"
That is why the Name YHVH is added to the Name ELoHYM.
Your Midrash Navigator
1. Did God make a mistake the first time around?
Values of Our Fathers 1:2
Shimon HaTzadik was one of the last living members
of the "Great Assembly." He used to say: The world stands
on three things. On Torah. On Service. On acts of Lovingkindness.
Tanach - Psalms
Chapter 85
1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of
Korah.
2. (K) Lord, you have been favorable to your land; you have brought
back the captivity of Jacob.
3. You have forgiven the iniquity of your people, you have pardoned
all their sin. Selah.
4. You have withdrawn all your wrath; you have turned from the
fierceness of your anger.
5. Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cease your anger toward
us.
6. Will you be angry with us for ever? Will you draw out your anger
to all generations?
7. Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
8. Show us your loving kindness, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
9. I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for he will speak peace
to his people, and to his pious ones; but let them not turn back to
folly.
10. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him; that glory
may dwell in our land.
11. Loving kindness and truth meet; righteousness and peace kiss
(confront) each other.
12. Truth shall spring from the earth; and righteousness shall
look down from heaven.
13. Also, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall
yield her produce.
14. Righteousness shall go before him; and walk in the way of his
steps.
Your Psalm Navigator
1. Look at verses 11 and 12. Why are
lovingkindness and truth seen as opposites?
2. How do you understand verse 12? What is the relationship between
truth and righteousness?
Midrash Rabbah – Genesis 8:5
"Rabbi Simon said,"At the moment the
Holy One chose to create the first ADaM the ministering angels broke
up into factions. Some of them said, "Create him;" while
others said, "Don't do it." Thus it is written: "Lovingkindness
and truth will meet, righteousness and peace will kiss.;" (Psalms
85:11)
Lovingkindness said: Create him, for he
will do acts of lovingkindness.
Truth said: Don't create him, for he is drenched in lies.
Righteousness said: Create him, for he will do much Tzedaka.
Peace said: Don't do it, for he is essentially quarrelsome.
What did the Holy One do? He took Truth and cast
it toward the earth.
Thus it is written, "And truth will be cast to the earth."
(Daniel 8:12)
The ministering angels said: Sovereign of
the Universe, Why do You shame the leader of Your court? Let truth
rise from the earth. Thus it is written, "Truth will arise from
the earth." (Psalms 85:12)
Your Midrash Navigator
1. This Midrash serves as a creative way for
understanding verses 11 and 12 in Psalm 85. They see the meeting of
lovingkindness and truth and righteousness and peace as suggesting a
narrative between God and angels. How did you understand these verses
before you read the Midrash?
2. What does it mean that truth was given to the earth and rises from
it?
Sources: Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Director, Hillel's
Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning. Reprinted with
permission. |