[Avodah] Question

[Daniel Israel]

Quoting Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org>:
> On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 02:26:25PM -0400, Zev Sero wrote:
> : 2. Adam and Chava's punishment changed their nature and the whole
> : world's nature.  As their genetic descendants, we naturally inherit
> : those changes, just as the descendants of someone who undergoes any
> : mutation, for any reason, inherit it.
>
> Doesn't this just presume the conclusion -- why were the consequences of
> Chava's and Adam's actions of the sort that they are inheritable, but
> Qayin's, not?

I think RZS's second sentence confuses the issue, but his point  
stands.  Adam and Chava's punishment included a change in the nature  
of reality.  Therefore it necessarily effects everyone who will ever  
inhabit this reality.  Kayin's punishment effected just him (directly).

To the extent that this change in nature included a change in human  
nature, it can be described as "inheritable," but the change was  
broader than that.  I don't think (for example) mortality was passed  
on as an inherited trait, rather human nature changed to be mortal,  
therefore all other people also have finite lifespans.  No different  
from all other people having to toil for agriculture.

This still leaves a "why" question, but not as strong.  There are lots  
of other examples of punishments that directly impact more than just  
the individual, i.e., David HaMelech being punished with a plague.

I would suggest, though, that the answer to the why question is  
connected to Adam being not just a single member of the human race,  
but originally, in some sense, the entirety of humanity.

-- 
Daniel M. Israel
dmi1 at cornell.edu