Derasha 1 on Bereishis 2:7

TT #80 · Parashas Bereishis · Second Aliyah · Passuk 7

Complete Passuk

וַיִּיצֶר֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הָֽאָדָ֗ם עָפָר֙ מִן־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ חַיָּֽה׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Berachos 61a (verified).

E-Daf image (Berachos 61a)

Core Text

Core Textמַאי דִּכְתִיב וַיִּיצֶר בִּשְׁנֵי יוּדִין? כִּדְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פָּזִי דְּאָמַר: אוֹי לִי מִיּוֹצְרִי וְאוֹי לִי מִיִּצְרִי. אִי נָמֵי כִּדְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר דְּאָמַר: דּוּ פַּרְצוּפִין בָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אָחוֹר וָקֶדֶם צַרְתָּנִי.
English of Core Text: What is the meaning of “vayyitzer” written with two yuds? As Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said: Woe is me from my Creator (yotzri) and woe is me from my inclination (yitzri). Alternatively, as Rabbi Yirmeyah ben Elazar said: The Holy One, blessed be He, created Adam the first man with two faces, as it is said “You have formed me back and front.”
On the daf / in context: The doubled yud of “vayyitzer” is expounded either as the dual struggle with Creator and inclination, or as the original androgynous/two-faced formation of Adam.
Type of Learning: Custom (doubled yud of formation)
What Is Learned: The two yuds allude either to the dual pull of Creator and inclination, or to the original two-faced creation of Adam.