Derasha 1 on Bereishis 4:25

TT #178 · Parashas Bereishis · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 25

Complete Passuk

וַיֵּ֨דַע אָדָ֥ם עוֹד֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁ֑ת כִּ֣י שָֽׁת־לִ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ זֶ֣רַע אַחֵ֔ר תַּ֥חַת הֶ֖בֶל כִּ֥י הֲרָג֖וֹ קָֽיִן׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Avos de-Rabbi Nosson 14 (verified).

Core Text

Core Textכְּשֶׁמֵּת בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי נִכְנְסוּ תַּלְמִידָיו לְנַחֲמוֹ. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיָה לוֹ בֵּן וּמֵת וְקִבֵּל עָלָיו תַּנְחוּמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיֵּדַע אָדָם עוֹד אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ — אַף אַתָּה קַבֵּל תַּנְחוּמִין.
English of Core Text: When the son of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai died, his disciples entered to comfort him. Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Adam the first man had a son who died and he accepted consolation, as it is said “And Adam knew his wife again” — you too accept consolation.
On the daf / in context: The resumption of marital life after the death of Hevel is the model for accepting consolation and returning to life after bereavement.
Type of Learning: Custom (accepting consolation after loss)
What Is Learned: Adam’s knowing his wife again after Hevel’s death is the paradigm for accepting consolation and continuing life.