The Incorruptible Spirit Within us
A lesson from the Tiferes Shlomo Parshas Bereishis
בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ והארץ היתה תהו ובהו וחושך... ורוח אלהים מרחפת על פני המים
In the beginning G-d created the Heaven and the earth. And the earth was empty and void and darkness... and the spirit of G-d hovered over the water.
In the beginning G-d created the Heaven and the earth. And the earth was empty and void and darkness... and the spirit of G-d hovered over the water.
The Midrash describes man as a microcosm of the world. This verse, which describes the beginning of the creation of the world, also alludes to the creation of man.
Man is comprised of body and soul. "The Heaven" refers to our Neshama and "the earth" refers to the physical body that was formed from the dust.
We are driven to sin by the desires of the physical body - "the earth". When a person sins, their soul and its holiness is driven away, leaving only a residual life-force within the body. This is why the wicked are described as being dead, even during their lifetime.
This is alluded to in the verse that "the earth was empty and void and darkness...", describing how the departure of the Neshama leaves our body empty and void and the light of the Neshama is replaced by darkness.
But even when we have sinned, all is not lost as G-d has granted us the blessing Teshuvah, the ability to return to Him. Our sages teach that Teshuvah preceded the creation. But when the soul is driven away through sin, how does the sinner have the ability to be inspired to do Teshuvah?
Even when "the earth" is dark and desolate, the spirit of G-d hovers over the waters. This refers to the essential core of the Neshama that Hashem placed within us. This incorruptible spark remains intact, even when we have sinned and it is from this spark that we can ascend from the depths through Teshuvah.
The very next verses teach "And G-d said let there be light and there was light... and G-d separated between the light and the darkness... and G-d saw the light that it was good." Through Teshuvah, we reinstate the complete light of the Neshama, removing the goodness. And once again Hashem shines His light and goodness upon us.
Man is comprised of body and soul. "The Heaven" refers to our Neshama and "the earth" refers to the physical body that was formed from the dust.
We are driven to sin by the desires of the physical body - "the earth". When a person sins, their soul and its holiness is driven away, leaving only a residual life-force within the body. This is why the wicked are described as being dead, even during their lifetime.
This is alluded to in the verse that "the earth was empty and void and darkness...", describing how the departure of the Neshama leaves our body empty and void and the light of the Neshama is replaced by darkness.
But even when we have sinned, all is not lost as G-d has granted us the blessing Teshuvah, the ability to return to Him. Our sages teach that Teshuvah preceded the creation. But when the soul is driven away through sin, how does the sinner have the ability to be inspired to do Teshuvah?
Even when "the earth" is dark and desolate, the spirit of G-d hovers over the waters. This refers to the essential core of the Neshama that Hashem placed within us. This incorruptible spark remains intact, even when we have sinned and it is from this spark that we can ascend from the depths through Teshuvah.
The very next verses teach "And G-d said let there be light and there was light... and G-d separated between the light and the darkness... and G-d saw the light that it was good." Through Teshuvah, we reinstate the complete light of the Neshama, removing the goodness. And once again Hashem shines His light and goodness upon us.