Derasha 3 on Bereishis 2:7

TT #82 · 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 Yerushalmi Nazir 7:2 (or parallel) (verified).

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן בֶּן פָּזִי: מְלֹא תַּרְוָד אֶחָד [עָפָר] נָטַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִמְּקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּבָרָא בּוֹ אֶת הָאָדָם... אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: הַלְּוַאי יִבָּרֵא מִמְּקוֹם הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּתְהֵא לוֹ עֲמִידָה.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Yudan ben Pazi said: The Holy One, blessed be He, took a single spoonful of dust from the place of the altar and created man with it... The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Would that he be created from the place of the altar so that he may have endurance (or standing).
On the daf / in context: The dust of Adam is taken from the future site of the altar, linking the first man to the place of atonement.
Type of Learning: Custom (dust of Adam from the altar site)
What Is Learned: Adam was formed from dust taken from the site of the altar, so that he would have a place of atonement.