Kaisipang Hudyo sa Genesis 3:8: Akeidat Yitzchak & Guide for the Perplexed

When G'd created the universe, He created three levels of creatures. A) The totally abstract intelligent beings form the highest layer. B) All the bodies in outer space form the middle layer. C) The lowest layer of creatures, i.e. everything here on earth. All three layers of creations share certain basic phenomena. 1) They exist. 2) They endure. 3) They possess a degree of perfection. Naturally, the closer the creation is to its original Creator, the greater the measure of the aforementioned attributes such creations possess. We on earth on the other hand, having been fashioned out of dust, enjoy very little in the way of an enduring existence, our only claim to eternity being our continuity as a species. The degree of perfection that we do enjoy is also limited, due to the imperfect nature of the materials used in fashioning us. In spite of the best efforts of the finest craftsmen to improve, beautify and enhance whatever there is on this earth, their efforts only achieve an improvement in the external appearance vis a vis its natural state. Our basic position in the universe is not improved vis a vis the planets or the disembodied spirits. Any discussion of closeness to or distance from the Creator, can be meaningful only if one remains aware that our position in the universe will remain that of being the most remote from the Creator. Man, alone of all the creatures in the universe is found in two spheres. Physically, we undoubtedly belong to the third realm, whereas spiritually, we belong to the first realm. Man alone, thanks to being in possession of a free will, is able to anchor himself more and more firmly in the first realm, in direct ratio to his efforts to gain deeper insights. As a result, he will also improve his character, personality, and become closer to the inhabitants of the first realm. All this is possible in spite of the fact that man was last in the order of creation, and therefore furthest removed from the Essence of the Creator. "He blew a soul into man." (Genesis 2,7) By this act, the Creator established as close a relationship with man as exists between the creatures of the first realm and Himself. In this manner man became equal to both the first and the third realm of creation, simultaneously. Man alone, of all that has been created, is therefore motivated to escape death and oblivion, to seek the source of eternal life and cling to it with all his might. At least that is the path taken by man when he lives according to the wishes of his Creator. We find the expression halach, he walked, used in connection with most outstanding people, since their lives represented constant progress, movement towards a goal, an objective. "Enoch walked with the Lord." (Genesis 5,22) When one feels distant, one tries to come closer. Finally, when one has reached one's goal of closeness to G'd, we read "for the Lord took him." (ibid) Noach was a similarly motivated person. "Noach walked with G'd ." (Genesis 6,9) Of the ancestors, collectively, the Torah testifies "your forefathers walked in front of Me." (Genesis 48,15) Abraham is commanded by G'd: "walk in front of Me and become perfect," (Genesis 17,1) after he had already practiced walking for many years. Clearly, all this "walking" had been inspired by original man's (Adam) failure to move forward. In fact, when Adam heard the voice of the Lord "walking" in the garden, he "hid himself;" he did not even try to keep in step with G'd. (Genesis 3,8) When the Torah reports Amram marrying Yochebed, this is described by the words "a man from the house of Levi walked and married a daughter of Levi." (Exodus 2,1) The choice of the expression "walked" could symbolise that this act was a great movement forward in terms of the condition of the Jewish people at that time. Even Yitro appreciated the meaning of Torah when he said to Moses "you will inform them of the way they should walk." (Exodus The Torah asks us innumerable times to follow the footsteps of G'd, or to "walk" in its ways. (Torah) The prophet Elijah perhaps illustrates this quest of constant movement towards G'd, best. We always encounter him as being on the move, until finally, G'd takes him unto Him. Unfortunately, not many people appreciate their mission, and act in a way that facilitates such movement towards G'd. Even some people who have set out on the right way, get sidetracked. This is the meaning of the verse "the ways of the Lord are straight; the just walk along them, whereas the sinners will be tripped up by them." (Hoseah 14,10) There are obstacles on the path toward achieving closeness with G'd that only the righteous can overcome. (The author proves these points by more quotations)

Following the thought expressed in Midrash Rabbah Nasso 12, the day the tabernacle was erected, a momentous event, the like of which had not occurred since the days of creation, the presence of the shechinah on earth was re-established in "the tent of meeting." Once before, in the garden of Eden, we read about "the voice of the Lord walking in the garden following the wind of the day." (Genesis 3,8). The word vayehee, it was (Numbers 7,1) always means that some new element has been introduced into the story being related,- according to the opinion of Rav. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai says that the term implies that something that had already been in existence once and had been severed from its function, has now been restored to its original function. Solomon does not say (in Song of Songs) "I came to the garden," but "I came to my garden," implying that this garden had already previously belonged to the one who enters it now. (compare Midrash Rabbah there dealing with the sacrifice of Nachshon.) Concerning the statement that human beings never come closer than to within forty inches of heaven, nor that G-d comes closer than to within forty inches of earth, this saying describes the limitations imposed upon human beings, even the most perfect of us. If one accepts the kabbalistic principle of the ten spheres, it stands to reason that G-d presides over the tenth sphere. On the other hand, if, for instance, the holy ark stood forty inches high, then the lid on which the cherubs were mounted and the shechinah rested, was higher than forty inches from the ground. The ten spheres are levels. Some prophets penetrate some of these levels depending on the calibre of the respective prophet and the nature of the vision granted to him. Elihu, in chapter thirty three of Job, refers to the fact that varying degrees of levels are revealed to the righteous, depending on the level of their righteousness. Moses himself, having reached the highest level a human prophet ever did, sort of "held on" to the throne," but did not cross the line beyond the tenth level.

THE term halak is likewise one of the words which denote movements performed by living beings, as in “And Jacob went (halak) on his way” (Gen. xxxii. I), and in many other instances. The verb “to go” was next employed in describing movements of objects less solid than the bodies of living beings, comp. “And the waters were going on (halok) decreasing” (Gen. 8:5); “And the fire went along (va-tihalak) upon the ground” (Exod. 9:23). Then it was employed to express the spreading and manifestation of something incorporeal, comp. “The voice thereof shall go like a serpent” (Jer. 46:22); again, “The voice of the Lord God walking in the garden” (Gen. 3:8). It is “the voice” that is qualified by “walking.”