How many Jews are online now?

I am. I am not sure what the question is. G-d made Adam a helper, a ezer kenego, a companion.

Oddly enough, in the rest of the Torah when "Ezer Kenedgo" is used, it is talking about G-d himself who you are in need of in a desperate way. Adam needed Eve and so companion or helper is not quite accurate. I guess there is not work in English that translates well.

I'm Jewish.

There is a real deep kabbalistic meaning to this passage. It should not be taken literally, in my opinion. (Although there is a literal meaning.)

The key is in the word kenegdo. This is a word meaning that you will receive in return exactly what you give. So, essentially what G-d was making was a reflection of the man. But not exactly, since it was a helper. So it was not only a reflection, but a magnefication of Adam.

It is a Jewish belief that everything on earth is a hint at the way things are in heaven. In life, the way a person treats their spouse will be reflected back to them and magnefied. (In a good relationship.) The same thing is true of our behavior to G-d. If we behave in a way that shows a desire to be good, G-d will give us that opportunity. If we behave in a way that shows a desire to be bad, then G-d will give us that opportunity.

In fact, because of the various covenants in the Torah, G-d is bound to act in certain ways the way WE act first. So a much deeper question comes about. Who is more powerful? G-d or the Jewish people. This sounds blasphemous, but a careful study of the Torah shows that the Jewish people can stimulate a certain response from G-d by the way we behave.

I say Jewish people because the covenant is not given to non-Jews. Therefore it is possible for G-d to give gratuitous good to gentiles when Jews would not get it.

There is a concept in Judaism called midah cneged midah. It means measure for measure or attribute for attribute.

You can test this out with people. Everytime you go into a store be sure to smile at the person and be extra friendly. At the supermarket try to get the same clerk when you check out so there is repeatability. After awhile, you will find this friendliness is returned. You are giving the person something they crave and in return you will get something you crave.

The same thing works with G-d. The Torah teaches us how to live life. G-d delights in our attempts to live life as the Torah teaches and will return many blessings to us when we do it. He is also a little miffed when we choose to do things our own way. Then he returns affliction therapy. The blessings are usually more than we deserve and the affliction therapy is given in the minimum dose needed to eventually bring us around to following the Torah.

I'm Jewish.... listen to Gershon!

One is here right now .