On Rosh Hashana we mark and celebrate the creation of Adam the first human.
Unlike all the other creatures that were created as herds and groups, with partners and offspring upon creation, Adam was created as a single human.
Only later that day was Chava (Eve) his wife created.
Our Sages in the Mishna (Sanhedrin Ch 4) explain why Adam was initially created in this way, as one individual:
Therefore, since all humanity descends from one person, each and every person is obligated to say: The world was created for me, as one person can be the source of all humanity, and recognize the significance of his actions.
Let me try to illustrate.
First a joke:
A frustrated father walks into the living room and yells, "Can someone please take out the garbage?!"
From the couch, his teenage son replies, "Sorry Dad, Someone isn't home right now. But Nobody is here, and he said he'd love to do it!"
Imagine if you were standing in the ‘garden’ and heard the voice of G-d saying:
‘Help me out in tending to my garden’.
If there were many other people in the garden with you, you may look around and see who G-d was speaking to. Perhaps it was to someone else.
We all know that people don’t always run to take responsibility when they are not asked individually.
However, if you were the only one in the garden and the instruction came down from Heaven you would know it was intended for you.
That is exactly how it looked on the day Adam was created. It was day six of creation, the day of Rosh Hashana.
Adam was the only one in the ‘Garden of Eden’ at the very beginning of his creation when G-d instructed him לעבדה ולשמרה to develop and protect the garden
Our sages explain that this means man is instructed to do positive things in G-d’s world – the doing mitzvot, and to stay away from doing negative things – the ‘refrain-from’ mitzvot.
By creating Adam as a singular human, the message was given to the entire humanity till the end of time that each and every person counts.
G-d brings each individual soul into this world to fulfil a Divine mission that only he or she can fulfil.
Every person is indispensable to G-d. This is the message that the Almighty embedded into the very fiber of the universe.
It’s a fast-developing AI world. Entire industries are becoming redundant.
It’s a world where ‘relevance’ is not to be taken for granted. People are questioning whether there is any need for them.
It is critical to remember that AI notwithstanding, YOU are important to G-d and have a special mission from G-d.
A mission that only YOU can carry out.
And G-d is watching. Hoping that you are going to choose the path of good which equals life.
An Eye that sees, an Ear that listens. And all of one’s actions are recorded.
It has never been easier to understand this concept. In the olden days it was hard to imagine how G-d could keep track of everything, everywhere. Today this is the reality through technology. G-d is obviously infinitely greater but the concept has become vividly visible.
One must be mindful of every deed, wherever one may be. G-d is omnipresent. And G-d cares about you and your behavior.
Feeling that the ‘world was created for you’ is not about entitlement.
It is intended to foster responsibility.
One cannot try to hide in the anonymity of being part of the masses.
Each individual has their mission that G-d has ordained for them.
It’s September 11. A day of tragic destruction. Carried out by a small group of individuals. Their horrific actions shook the world; the aftershocks reverberate till today.
If such epic evil can be achieved through so few people and with so little resources, how much more so we can do powerful things on the side of good.
Hashem creates his world with a tilt towards the success of G-dly sanctioned goodness and kindness.
If we put forth our efforts, as individuals, we can set off a chain of positivity that will buoy the world and unleash the light and the positivity that Hashem exhorts us to reveal in the world.
On this Rosh Hashana, as the world celebrates it's 5,787th birthday, make a good resolution to take on a new commitment to add or strengthen at least one mitzvah to what you already perform.
Let us each add in goodness, kindness and positivity and create a storm of light.
First of all by lighting Shabbat and Rosh Hashana candles before sundown this afternoon.
Best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom, a Shana Tova Umetuka – a good and sweet year to you and your loved ones.
A year of redemption with the coming of Mashiach NOW.
Rabbi Yosef & Nechama Kantor