The question
Why does the Torah tell the story of creation twice — and which of the two people is you?
5 themes run through the course
פְּשָׁטPeshat — the plain meaningWhat Genesis 1 and 2 actually say
רֶמֶזRemez — the hintTwo names of God and one extra letter
דְּרַשׁDerash — the teachingWhat the Sages draw out
סוֹדSod — the secretThe Tanya and the Kabbalah on the soul
מַעֲשֶׂהMa’aseh — doingKiddush, and the Torah in our world
Missed the class? This course covers everything we studied, in more detail. Each lesson gives you the full texts in Hebrew and English, the classic commentators (Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, Radak, Malbim, Bartenura and more), a step-by-step explanation, and questions with discussion notes. Your progress is saved on this device.
The lessons
1TextTwo Stories of CreationThe Torah tells the creation of the human being twice, and the two accounts do not match.2 texts · about 15 minStart →2TextNot Good to Be AloneAfter a whole chapter of “good” and “very good,” the Torah says for the first time that something is “not good.” What is it?1 text · about 15 minStart →3HintsTwo Names of GodIn chapter 1 God is called only Elokim.1 text · about 15 minStart →4HintsThe Extra LetterOne small spelling detail in Genesis 2:7 holds a whole theory of the human being: why you can argue with yourself, and an animal cannot.2 texts · about 10 minStart →5SagesOne Person, a Whole WorldWhy did God begin humanity with one single person?2 texts · about 15 minStart →6SagesA Helper Against Him — and the Gift of RestTwo short phrases that the Sages read closely: a “helper against him,” and God finishing His work “on the seventh day.”3 texts · about 15 minStart →7SoulThe Breath from WithinThe Tanya reads Genesis 2:7 as a statement about every Jewish soul — and the two names of God as two ways He meets the world.2 texts · about 20 minStart →8SoulKabbalah: Seven Days and the First SoulKabbalah reads the seven days as seven qualities of God, and Adam as one soul that holds every soul.2 texts · about 15 minStart →9LivingKiddush and Our WorldThe two stories meet every Friday night at the Shabbat table.2 texts · about 15 minStart →