‘Eden Decoded’: Examining the Narrative of Sin in the Garden

The oldest story of humanity is likely to be the most widely told story of all time. But it’s perhaps the least understood. The narrative of the sin of the “Tree of Knowledge” in the Garden of Eden, as told in Genesis 3, is as perplexing as it is tantalizing. What exactly was the serpent, and what was his motive? Was he an agent of G‑d or an agent of evil? What was the function of the tree, and why did G‑d place it in the garden in the first place?

The questions go on and on.

As part of a bold attempt to correct common misconceptions and shed light on this oft-misunderstood chapter of human history, Rabbi Menachem Feldman will be leading a four-part series by Chabad.org Courses that will share traditional Jewish teachings on the subject. In addition to careful textual analyses, the rabbi will also draw from a deep well of Chassidic teachings that add a new layer of meaning to the narrative about human nature and the human condition.

Billed as “Eden Decoded,” this is the seventh course from Chabad.org Courses, which launched in 2015. Each one is given by a different presenter and focuses on a specific area of Jewish belief, practice or scholarship.

“The story of Eden is as old as the world itself, and yet we are all still trying to write its ending,” says course producer Rabbi Yaakov Kaplan. “This is the bedrock of human history and the key to understanding so much about ourselves, G‑d and how we interact.”

Feldman is the author of a book summarizing the talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. He and his wife, Chana, serve as adult-education directors at Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich, Conn., overseen by Rabbi Yossi and Maryashie Deren. There, he teaches an array of Jewish subjects.

The free course will air on four consecutive Mondays, from July 3 to July 24. As with all Chabad.org Courses, participants will be supplied with source sheets, quizzes, access to discussion boards and an opportunity to interact directly with the presenter.

Sign up now for “Eden Decoded.”

Rabbi Menachem Feldman

The story of Adam . . .

The story of Eve . . .

. . . and the story of a serpent. It’s a story as old as the world itself.