Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

21
Bereishit
Responsibility
David Petrover
T his week’s parsha, Parshat Bereishit, speaks several times about responsibility
and accountability. For example, Hashem put Adam and Chava in charge of Gan
Eden, the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, Adam and Chava did not live up to their
responsibility. When there was a breakdown in their care of the Garden, when they
ate from the Etz Ha-da’at, the Tree of Knowledge, each denied that he or she was
responsible.
We can ask the obvious question: if Hashem knew that the tree was so tempting and
that man would probably fail his duty and responsibility, why not just get rid of the
item of temptation - then the snake, Adam and Chava would have been spared?
The answer to this is fairly simple - sometimes there are challenges in life. Our job
is to overcome these temptations and challenges. They make us stronger and more
responsible. However, we are only human and can often give into temptation. That is
why the rabbis, in their wisdom, set up “fences” that help keep us from situations that
could tempt us.
In the story of Kayin and Hevel, unfortunately there was no fence to stop Kayin from
killing his brother, Hevel. When Hashem turned to him and said “Ay Hevel achicha?”
“Where is Hevel your brother?” (4:9), Kayin responded - “Lo yadati – ha-shomer
achi anochi?” “I don’t know - am I my brother’s keeper?” This claim shows a certain
element of being self-centered and shirking all responsibility; this leads to derogation