Perek Shira: Gan Eden

Presented by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

Sponsored in loving memory of our Bubbie and Zeide Schaum,

R’ Pinchas Mordechai ben R’ Yehudah a.h., and Beila Necha bas R’ Yakov a.h.

A part of Series 1 of the Perek Shirah Collection by TEACH613™,

sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Frankel in loving memory of their parents

Jacob and Bertha Frankel a.h. and Alfred and Beatrice Earle a.h.

 

For full English/ Hebrew text, please click here

Basics about Gan Eden

1) And G-d planted a garden in Eden to the east, and he placed in it that man that He had formed. G-d caused to sprout forth from the ground, every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good to eat. Also, there was the “tree of life” in the garden, and the “tree of knowledge between good and bad.” A river came forth from Eden to irrigate the garden. From there it divides and becomes four. The first is called Pishon. That encircles Chvilah, where the gold is. The gold from there is good; there can be found the bedolach and shoham stone. The second river is Gichon, which encircles the land of Kush. The name of the third river is Chidekel, which flows to the east of Ashur. The forth river is the Euphrates. (Bireishis 2:8-15)

 

2) Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima said: First man resided comfortably in Gan Eden. The angels would roast meat and prepare wine for him. The snake saw his honor and became jealous!

 

3) Rabbah bar Avuha found Eliyahu. He said to him, “I am pressured financially.” Eliyahu guided him and brought him up to Gan Eden. He said to him, “Spread out you cloak and gather the leaves.” Rabbah bar Avuha did so. As he was leaving he heard a voice saying, “Who is consuming their World to Come? Like Rabbah bar Avuha!” He dropped that which he had gathered. Even so, he took his cloak which was saturated with scent. He sold it for 12,000 Dinarim and distributed it among his sons in law.

 

Gan Eden in Perek Shira

4 )Gan Eden says: Arise from North, and come to South, blow the garden, let its scent flow. May My beloved come to his garden and eat the treasures fruit. (Shir Hashirim 4:16)

Commentary of Rav Luria

5) The intent of the author is not regarding the Gan Eden which is described in the Torah, because all the items described in Perek Shira are things that we can see [and learn lessons from].

 

6) From a garden which is made for delight on can perceive the spiritual reward of the World to Come.

 

7) It is difficult [for a physical being] to envision enjoyment besides eating, drinking, and physical sensations. But from this item, the garden of delight which is filled with precious flowers and enveloped in pleasant scents, one can appreciate the satisfaction…

 

8) These pleasures [sight, music, and scent] are imprints of higher intellect, while taste and physical sensations are lower physicality which one only senses when there is an interaction of physicality with the physical.

 

9) It is for this reason that our sages described the spiritual reward that we yearn for after life using the name “Gan Eden”. The ability for a person who is physical to envision pleasure and satisfaction without a physical body, can be illustrated by the pleasure and pleasantness which a person experiences from these three senses.