The Torah has wisdom, stories, and unanswered questions wrapped in its scrolls.
The garden of Eden, for example, is bursting with not just with rivers and plants, but also
mysteries.
Here's the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
What are the fruit on its branches?
Many assume they are apples, but in fact, their identity is not so clear.
Let's review the story and look for clues.
After creating everything, G-d made the garden and put plenty of delicious fruit trees in
it, including two special trees.
And a man to tend the garden.
G-d told the man that the fruit of the tree of knowledge is forbidden.
If he eats from it, he will die.
With only fruit trees for friends, the man gets lonely.
So G-d gives him animals to name, and a woman to keep him company.
They're naked, and they don't care.
One day, a serpent comes to the woman and tells her that the forbidden fruit won't kill
her, but open her eyes.
So she decides to try it.
It doesn't kill her.
And actually it's absolutely beautiful and delicious.
So she shares it with her companion.
Suddenly, they see they are naked and they are ashamed, so they cover themselves with
fig leaves.
For breaking the rules, G-d curses them, and casts them out of the garden.
Wait.
Just what was that forbidden fruit that grew on the tree of knowledge?
Let's consult our panel of experts.
Tonight, my friends, we are having a special meal.
Sweet red wine and etrog logs.
Wood?
Splinters?
Sawdust soup?
Where's the Shabbat brisket?
Shush shush.
Everyone calm down and let me explain.
I have a perfect explanation for why we should enjoy a dinner of etrog tree.
In the story of Eden, the Torah uses the words, "Eve ate of the tree" to indicate a tree whose
wood, like its fruit, may be eaten.
And what tree is that?
The etrog.
Rabbi Abba, you can eat a tree?
Of course you can, try the one on your plate.
Why is wheat so tasty?
Well you know Davna, wheat is thought to be the fruit that got Adam and Eve kicked out
of Eden.
Why is that Daddy?
Well, thousands of years ago, Rabbi Meir explained that when a man has no understanding, people
sarcastically say of him, "this man is wise, G-d help him because in all his days, he never
put bread made of wheat into his mouth."
Huh?
You see wheat is considered both a source and a symbol of wisdom for people, like the
tree of knowledge.
Maybe because it was the first cereal farmed by people.
But wheat isn't even close to the height of trees Daddy.
You're right Davna, Rabbi Samuel Bar Rabbi Isaac said that in the garden of Eden stocks
of wheat were like trees, for they grew to the height of cedars in Lebanon, even though
today they are much smaller.
But you still haven't answered my question, why is wheat so tasty?
I don't know Davna, I don't know.
The forbidden fruit?
What could it have been?
Perhaps I, the great Rabbi Yossi can figure it out.
Was it grapes?
An orange?
An apple?
Oh wait, figs!
Yes, figs!
Even though they taste like a caterpillar covered in glue.
Behold the thieves, behold the thieves.
Ah, we're naked, please give us some leaves to cover ourselves with.
You won't get any leaves from us, thieves!
Come, take my leaves, they make excellent clothes.
I feel a bit responsible for what has happened.
Thanks for the leaves, fig tree!
But not for the fruit.
It tasted like knowledge, but we got in trouble for it.
How could we not have seen it before?
The fig tree!
This must be why Rabbi Levy said it is called "the daughter of woe," for it brought woe
and weeping to the world.
We are not supposed to know what type of fruit it was, just imagine.
What type of fruit is this?
It's a delicious --. But Rabbi Berechiah, why wouldn't G-d reveal it to us?
To spare humankind the shame.
It is better that we don't know because otherwise we would be reminded of our exile from Eden
every time we saw it.
Oh, kind of like how you crashed your friend's cart.
Whenever you saw that kind of cart, you would be ashamed.
The Jewish tradition of investigation and interpretation is a conversation that connects
us across time.
It's still happening right now, and it always provides food for thought.