וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹא־ט֛וֹב הֱי֥וֹת הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְבַדּ֑וֹ אֶֽעֱשֶׂהּ־לּ֥וֹ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
The LORD God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.”
At first glance, this pasuk seems to be setting up a hierarchy of man, followed by women. This is problematic on many levels, most obvious being the subservient nature that some segments of the Jewish world have ingrained in their community in regard to the status of women. Upon closer study, the word "עֵ֖זֶר" ("helper") usually refers to God, taken out any notion of inferiority. The word
"נֶגְדּֽוֹ" ("opposite him/it") hints at an "other", or someone who confronts. It is because of this that we can understand the need for a partner-to not be alone. Just like food, clothing and shelter, community is a basic human need. We all need and deserve to feel connected to one another. May we all find a sense of community in this new year, this week, this Shabbat.
SHABBAT SHALOM!
