Trouble in Paradise

According to wiktionary, (who knew)this idiom describes an unexpected problem in a supposedly positive situation. 

My sources relate the earliest documented mention of  this phrase is from the late 1800s. 

Really?

What about this week’s Torah portion?

We have completed the cycle of the Torah and are ready to being anew with this week and Parsha Breishit. 

This portion deals with the creation story of the universe and all its inhabitants. 

A main theme in the Parsha revolves around the first humans, Adam and Chava (Eve) and their tragically short sojourn in the Garden of Eden, colloquially known as Paradise. 

Gd gave Adam and Eve permission to eat from all the fruits in the Garden, except from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The snake approaches Chava and convinces her to eat from the forbidden fruit. 

This action results in a cosmic change, the world is torn asunder from its destiny. 

All the characters in the story receive a punishment for their misdeeds and  are banished from the Garden. 

The snake’s punishment is recorded in the verse in our Parsha. The snake will be the most cursed of all animals, he will always crawl on his stomach and  eat the dirt all the days of his life. 

Rabbi Gavriel Friedman, Rav Gav, many of us had the opportunity to hear from in Israel, shares the following idea. 

This seems to be an extremely strange punishment. 

The snake’s actions have messed up everything for eternity and what are the consequences? 

Anywhere he goes, he will have food. 

In the inimitable words of Rav Gav, Gd seems to be offering the snake an all you can eat buffet, always. 

Imagine a child does an egregious deed, and the parent responds by offering a credit card to be used at anytime. 

Doesn’t sound like a punishment at all. 

And food is a basic component of life, of existence, why is the snake being cared for in what seems to be a loving manner?

What punishment has the snake received?

Rav Gav relates a story of a widowed father and his son. The father is lonely after the passing of his wife and begins a relationship. As the relationship becomes serious, the woman issues an ultimatum. The man must choose between her or his son. She wants to begin a new life and this does not include a teenager. 

(This is not a true story, it’s just a parable so don’t get lost in the weeds!)

The father is very torn but he makes a decision. He calls his son in and presents him with a credit card. He tells his son this credit card is at his disposal at all times for any need he may have. 

Then he presents his son with a set of keys and announces they are for his brand new apartment which contain every amenity, and finally, he presents another set of keys to a spanking, new luxury car. 

The son is extremely confused, this has never been his Dad’s style. 

His Dad begins to talk and says, 

Son, this is going to be very hard to hear, but I can never talk to you again. 

I’ve chosen to move on in my life and there is no room for you. All of this is to take care of your every need, you will have no worries. 

Initially, the son is taken aback, but it sounds like he will have all he needs in abundance, so he’s fine. 

Not for long. 

Trouble in Paradise. 

He becomes depressed. 

All the stuff in the world has no meaning, because he has no relationship with his Father. 

In the beginning, for a short while, it seemed like Paradise, but it quickly became empty and meaningless without the emotional, and meaningful relationship with his Dad. 

That is the essence of the punishment of the snake. 

Gd says, I won’t forsake you, I will forever take care of your needs, but what you will never regain is a relationship with Me. 

It turns out to be a really intense and cosmic punishment. 

As we exit the High Holiday season and all the prayers, rituals and Mitzvot, we may feel a little depressed. 

The connection we might have attained, may be hard to maintain. 

But if we carry with us that small commitment that we have identified, and it’s not too late to identify one now, we can deepen the connection to our Creator as we move forward in the months ahead. 

Because a life devoid of connection will feel empty. 

In the words of the Chassidic Master, the Kotzker Rebbe,

Where is Gd? Wherever we allow Gd in. 

Sounds like a tiny bit of Paradise can accompany us on our journey, if we continue to strive for the connection. 

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!