2002/5763
In this week’s Parsha it says לא טוב היות האדם לבדו, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (2:18). Cassuto points out the difference in terms that לא is a definitive no, while אין is not necessarily bad or good. Why must the Torah use such strong words here? What is really so bad about man being wrong? The Gemara in Yevamot (63a) says, “How does a woman help a man? The man brings the wheat, but he cannot eat it raw. He brings the flax, but cannot wear it. He has no one to direct him.” The Seforno expands saying that a man cannot reach his full potential alone, not spiritually nor in the physical world. He needs a woman to reach his full potential. If man is created in Hashem’s image it is not good at all because he cannot fulfill his full potential, and walk in Hashem’s way. We should all be זוכה to fulfill our potential and walk in the ways of God.