Derasha 1 on Bereishis 2:22 · Parashas Bereishis

Complete Passuk

וַיִּבֶן֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶֽת־הַצֵּלָ֛ע אֲשֶׁר־לָקַ֥ח מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־הָֽאָדָֽם׃

Source Citation

TT points to Berachos 61a (verified).

Core Text

Core Textפְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל: חַד אָמַר פַּרְצוּף, וְחַד אָמַר זָנָב. וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר זָנָב, מַאי וַיִּסְגֹּר בָּשָׂר תַּחְתֶּנָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: לֹא נִצְרְכָה אֶלָּא לִמְקוֹם חֲתָךְ.

English of Core Text: Rav and Shmuel disagree about it: one said [the side was] a face, and one said a tail. And according to the one who said a tail, what is the meaning of “and He closed up the flesh in its place”? Rabbi Yirmeyah said: It is needed only for the place of the cut.

On the daf / in context: The classic dispute on the nature of the “tzela” taken from Adam: either a second face (androgynous) or a tail-like appendage; the closing of the flesh is explained accordingly.

What Is Learned: The side taken from Adam was either a second face or a tail; the verse’s “closing of flesh” addresses the place of the incision.