This first marriage of Adam and Eve is an embodiment of sorts of the relationship between Hashem and His chosen people—yay, His chosen Bride—Israel, the Jewish people and the Jewish Nation.

Animal sacrifices along with the light and life of Torah-abiding that distinguishes Hashem’s people from the rest of the world. In creation terms, that means the mirrored light of Hashem (day 4) and the animal sacrifices (day 5) separate the firstfruits (day 3) from the general population (day 6).

As I write this, I am reclining. I am reposed. Yet, I am not preparing for bed. It makes me wonder if the mitzvot of recitation of the Shema "when you lie down" goes deeper than the surface level of night and the time of sleep.

My faith was sealed when talking with an old Jewish grandmother one evening. She asked me why I was in Israel. After telling her I was here to learn and have questions answered about my faith, she asked me to describe my faith. At that point, I knew my theology was so mixed up with lies and truth, but the Jewish grandmother wanted to hear me out anyway. After describing to her everything I believed, the only thing she could say was, “my dear, I think you are Jewish!”