Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Cohen
Hashem Elokim called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (3:9)
The word Ayeca, “Where are you?” has the same letters as Eichah, which implies, “How could you?” Ayeca, “Where?” also intimates, “Do you know where you are; Do you realize that you sinned in Gan Eden?” These expositions each present an understanding of the gravity of sin, its roots, and effect on those in the proximity of the sinner.
Adam HaRishon had sinned. The first step toward reconciliation was teshuvah, repentance. In order to repent a sin, one should first introspect the root of his behavior, the pathology that led up to that moment. Likewise, we should ask ourselves Ayeca – How did I get here? What have I gone through to reach this point? What were the factors that have influenced my life – both positive and negative? Now that you realize how it has all led up to this moment, what are you going to do about it? Are you a success, or is your life a mess? How did this happen? What led up to this point?
At this time of year after experiencing the cleansing of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and the joy of Succot and Simchat Torah we must take stock of where we are and ask ourselves how can we make sure we grow from this point forward and not to, Chas v’shalom, be left asking ourselves later in the year, the same Ayeca as Hashem asked Adam!