This Parsha Message is in memory of those who were killed in the brutal attacks in Israel on Shemini Atzeret. It should be a merit for a refuah shelaima for those who were wounded, for the return of those taken hostage, for the protection and success of the Israeli soldiers, and for strength , comfort , and protection for Jews in Israel and around the world who are going through such difficult times.
After Man was created he was tasked with a job that the Midrash tells us even Angels couldn’t do.
יִּצֶר ה' אֱ-לֹהִים מִן־הָאֲדָמָה כׇּל־חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְאֵת כׇּל־עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וַיָּבֵא אֶל־הָאָדָם לִרְאוֹת מַה־יִּקְרָא־לוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָא־לוֹ הָאָדָם נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה הוּא שְׁמוֹ׃
And the LORD God formed out of the earth all the wild beasts and all the birds of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that would be its name. (2:19)
The Midrash says that then Hashem turned to Man and asked him, "What should your name be?” He answered, "My name should be אדם, Adam, for I was formed from the אדמה (adamah) , from the earth,” as it says:
וַיִּיצֶר ה' אֱ-לֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה׃
The LORD God formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (2:7)
Adam was a sublime creation who was greater than the Angels. The Midrash says that when he was created he was so great that the Angels were ready to sing their praises of Hashem to him! The Talmud states that when Man was created he could see from one end of the world to the other. Why would he choose to call himself a name based on dirt that connotes something very physical, mundane, lowly, and dirty?
Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel (1849-1927), of blessed memory, known as the Alter (The Elder) of Slabodka (Yeshiva in Lithuania) answered that Man was very calculated in choosing his name. Man must constantly be aware of the “earthy” side of his existence. This is the very physical and lowly part of every human being that draws one away from the G-dliness that resides in Man that gives him his greatness. Without this awareness a person will sin and fail to realize the tremendous potential they have been endowed with. Man therefore chose a name that would constantly remind him of this.
But what of his potential greatness? Will that be ignored? The answer is that too lies in his name. We tend to translate the word עפר (afar) as dust. But in many places where this word is used in the Scriptures it means dirt. Dirt may be dirty but it has tremendous potential. The dirt of the world sustains every living being because everything grows from the earth! So too Man has the ability to produce greatness that reaches the Heavens and brings G-dliness to the world. Without this awareness Man will fail to actualize his potential. Therefore Man chose a name that would constantly remind him of this too.
Thus the name אדם, Adam, keeps one focused on the opposing forces that reside in every person so that we can achieve our purpose in life as so beautifully depicted in Mesilas Yesharim, chapter one.
The Holy One, blessed be He, has put man in a place where the factors which distance him from the blessed G-d are numerous. These are the physical lusts which if he is drawn after them, behold, he draws away and goes ever further from the true good.Thus, we see that man is truly placed in the midst of a raging battlefield. For all matters of this world, whether for the good or for the bad, are trials for a man…. If he will be a man of valor, emerging from the battle victorious… [he] will merit to cling to his Creator and will emerge from this corridor [i.e. this world] to enter into the palace to enlighten in the Light of [Eternal] Life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Yitzchak