The interaction between man
and the **Nachash (serpent)** in the Garden of Eden is a pivotal moment in the
Torah that introduces confusion and inconsistency into the world. Here's how it
unfolds: 

  

### **The Temptation** 

In Genesis 3, the Nachash
tempts Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, despite God's
command not to do so. The Nachash convinces Eve that eating the fruit will make
her like God, knowing good and evil. 

  

### **The Consequences** 

When Eve eats the fruit and
gives some to Adam, they both become aware of their nakedness and feel shame.
This marks the introduction of **sin and moral confusion** into the world.
Before this event, Adam and Eve lived in a state of innocence and clarity. The yetzer
hara (evil inclination) now becomes internalized.  

  

The Talmud and Midrash
elaborate on the Nachash's role in introducing confusion. The **yetzer hara**
is seen as a force that causes people to rationalize sinful behavior,
convincing them that what is wrong is actually right. This inner conflict leads
to inconsistency in thoughts and actions. 

  

In Kabbalistic thought, the
Nachash represents a cosmic force of chaos and deception. By tempting Eve, the
Nachash brings about a spiritual dissonance that affects all of humanity,
leading to a struggle between good and evil within each person. 

I would like to begin where
we left of last week: 

  

Chava's decision to eat from
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, after being tempted by the Nachash,
introduces confusion and moral ambiguity into the world. This act represents a
moment of weakness and inconsistency, as she wavers from God's command. 

  

- **Consequences**: Her
actions lead to the introduction of sin and the yetzer hara (evil inclination)
into humanity, resulting in a lasting struggle between good and evil within
each person. 

  

The rabbis tell us that this
spiritual impurity of the Nachash became a part of her first child Kayin and
extends into his prodigy.  

  

As we read last week, The
midwives, Shifrah and Puah, defied Pharaoh's order to kill the Hebrew newborns,
showing unwavering commitment to preserving life. Similarly, Batya, Pharaoh's
daughter, defied her father's decree by rescuing and raising Moses, a Hebrew
baby. 

  

- **Steadfastness**: These
women exemplified moral clarity and steadfastness, choosing to act according to
their principles, even in the face of potential consequences. Their actions
were guided by a strong sense of justice and compassion. 

  

We also mentioned that we see
this moral clarity embodied in Moshe in the first three stories  

  

The Egyptian beating Datan 

Datan and Aviram fighting 

Rescuing the daughters of
Yitro  

  

While Chava's actions brought
about moral confusion and an internal struggle, the actions of the midwives and
Batya brought about clarity and righteousness. They acted with unwavering
commitment to their beliefs, showcasing the power of steadfastness. 

  

Chava's story reminds us of
the potential consequences of wavering from moral clarity and succumbing to
temptation. It highlights the importance of maintaining steadfastness in our
faith and actions. 

  

These contrasting narratives
offer valuable lessons on the significance of consistency, moral clarity, and
steadfastness in our lives. 

  

At the beginning of this
month, we delved into the kavanot, the thoughts one should have transitioning
from Kislev to this dark and cold month of Tevet and in attempting to bring the
light of Hanukah into the darkness of Esav’s month and into our lives 

  

This Shabbat we will announce
Rosh Hodesh Shevat. Shevat is a very powerful month. Shevat is when we
commemorate the Yahrzeit of my Rabbi and my father. Three of my dad’s siblings
passed away in Shevat along with my uncle Hymie Gindi. But Shevat is powerful
as a transition for the Jewish people. Rosh Hodesh is next Thursday.  

  

I recall that we used to say
just as Tu BeAb breaks the judgement of the summer and brings us into the
Holiday season, the same of Rosh Hodesh Shevat which breaks the din of the
winter and brings us into the Pesach Holiday season with something every two
weeks until summer  

  

RH 

Tu Bishvat 

Rosh Hodesh 

Purim or Purim Kattan in leap
year  

RH 

Pesach  

Shevii 

RH 

Lag BaOmer  

We can add Yom HaAtzmaut and  

Yom Yerushalayim  

RH 

And Shavuot through 13^th 

  

Understand Rosh Chodesh
Shevat 

  

We have discussed many times
that the Kavana  

The thought one must have in
MUSAF  

Each month different  

  

Crucial  

Mekadesh Yisrael ve Rashai
Chodashim 

Must visualize Hashems name 

  

And each month we visualize a
bit differently  

We know the name of Hashem as
written is four letters 

A Yud and a Heh and a Vav and
a Heh  

We can make 12 different
permutations of those letters and there is one for each month  

  

We visualize and relate each
to a verse  

  

So for Shevat 

To have in mind tomorrow when
we say the blessing 

We must see the name of
Hashem as  

  

But Heh Yud Vav Heh  

הָ יְ ו ה 

reversing the Yud and the Heh  

  

SEE VAYIKRA 27 for the source of the verse  

לג לֹא יְבַקֵּר
בֵּין-טוֹב לָרַע, וְלֹא יְמִירֶנּוּ; וְאִם-הָמֵר יְמִירֶנּוּ, וְהָיָה-הוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִהְיֶה-קֹּדֶשׁ לֹא יִגָּאֵל. 

33. He
shall not inspect [a tithed animal] for a good or a bad one, nor shall he offer
a substitute for it. And if he does replace it, then [both] that one and its
replacement are holy; it cannot be redeemed. 

  

Someone makes donation  

Take sacrifice 

Then changes mind  

Maybe he has a better animal
to give or maybe he gets cheap and wants to switch it for one he wants to get
rid of 

  

Two sins 

Double lashes 

Because changed 

  

What’s the big deal 

  

We can understand if inferior
but what if he just wants to do better and give something better  

Let me switch  

Whats the big deal 

Not allowed to 

Why not 

  

If you do 

Both old and new holy 

Both are given away  

  

You get double lashes 

Why? 

Decided to be better Jew and
punished? 

No – not for that 

  

  

Problem is  

You changed your mind  

What’s so bad about changing
your mind 

How does it relate to this
month and these especially these parshiot of Shovevim  

  

This week we read VaErah  

This Perasha is really a
continuation of last week’s perasha