Cary Schnitzer

Understanding Adam's Sin and Its Rectification Cary Schnitzer

Understanding Adam's Sin and Its Rectification, while relying on traditional Torah exegesis, presents a fresh and startling rendering of the story of Adam and Eve. The author sheds an unexpected new light on a story that the reader may have thought that he or she was thoroughly familiar with: What was the fatal flaw in Adam's relationship with Eve? Was Eve forbidden to eat of the fruit-and if not, what was her sin? What harmful attitude did the Snake inculcate in Eve, which made her susceptible to his wiles? What was the crux of God's challenge to Adam and Eve? This new interpretation of the Adam and Eve narrative lays the groundwork for the deeper meaning of Adam's Sin, which lays out a vision in which our human existence is predicated upon the challenge to attain relationships of respect, kindness, and love with God and with others. Understanding Adam's Sin and Its Rectification delineates how this and related themes echo throughout various episodes in the Chumash, in which the Patriarchs and Moses at times succeeded and at times failed. It discusses incidents such as the attempted sacrifice of Isaac, the Patriarchs rejection of Timna, Jacob's favoring of his son Joseph, and Moses' separation from his wife. Finally, Understanding Adam's Sin and Its Rectification applies these themes to mankind throughout history-always returning to the central idea of free will as the means to elevate humanity.