Death is very good...

Let us make man

When G-d created man, He gave man a conflicting outlook on life. To start, man is unique in the fact that man is made from both the dust of the earth (creation), and the breath of heaven (Creator). Man plays the specialized role of being the bridge between Creator and creation. When G-d says, “Let us make man in our image” (Gen 1:26), He is speaking to the fullness of creation up to that point.

From his heavenly attributes, man can rationalize, identify the meaning of something beyond the surface, and communicate through words. From his earthly side, man eats and drinks like an animal, reproduces like an animal, digests, and releases feces like an animal, and ultimately will die like an animal.

Two realms, two paths

It is through the “us” (Creator & creation) that man is fashioned, and man becomes unique to the rest of creation. Just as G-d rules over all of creation, man (in the image of G-d) is able to also rule over creation.

And God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.” Genesis 1:26

A more common form of the word for ‘to rule’ would be וימשלו, but instead the text uses וירדו. As Rashi & R’Chanina (in Bereishis Midrash Rabbah 8:12) state, the word וירדו may imply either dominion or descension. It is not written “man וירדו,” but that man shall וירדו. Similarly, our dual nature of heaven & earth provides us with two paths to take. If we align ourselves with G-d’s intent and will, we then rule over creation. If we align ourselves with the world, then we are concealing G-d and distancing ourselves from Him to the point of being less than the animals.

The Hebrew word for ‘world’ (olam) comes from the root word meaning ‘to conceal’. When we align ourselves with G-d, the creation side (the concealment) is pulled back and allows G-d to be shown through it.

The only way that man can have dominion over animals is if he is in the image of G-d, with the concealment (body/olam/world) of G-d submitting to the revealing of G-d (spirit/heaven/Creator). But if he were to forfeit his image and likeness, then he would be ruled by the animals, as his newfound image is nothing but layers upon layers of dark concealment.

The attitude towards life

The world was created for man. Creation was only complete once man entered the narrative. Similar to building a wedding chamber and finally bringing in the bride. Without the bride, the wedding chamber has no purpose. However, man is nothing more than dust, ash, and breath. Who is man to believe he is worthy of working with the Almighty Creator who built the entire universe? This puts man in a conflicting mindset.

On one hand, man may begin to think he is more significant than all of creation and develop a ballooning ego, leading him to believe he can do whatever he wants. On the other hand, man also dies and returns to dust - which may lead him to believe he is so insignificant that he is unworthy to enter G-d's estate and serve the Creator of all things directly. Both views by themselves will cause someone to stumble in their obedience to G-d.

While this dichotomy may seem like an emotional rollercoaster, this is precisely what man needs. If man thinks he is unworthy, he should remember that he is the reason for creation. If a man develops an overinflated sense of self-worth, he should remember that he is only dust. With both of these views in mind, we are able to place ourselves on a fence where the following deed we do (whether good or bad) will either be the reason for the world’s destruction or usher in the world’s salvation. We will then view every interaction in life as a task of tipping the scales and saving the world.

The unity of G-d & creation

Creation and Creator are a single unit working together in unison. When the two work towards the same goal, it is the ultimate ‘closeness’ to G-d and reveals His glory. When creation separates from the Creator, it creates distance and conceals G-d (also known as ‘sin’). Just as G-d is immortal and rules over all of creation, one who follows G-dliness will have eternal life and rule over creation. Likewise, just as everything on earth fades to dust, so too will the one who follows the ways of the world fade to dust and be trampled on by everyone above it.

Earlier it was mentioned that man will descend lower than animals. However, we must ask, why will man descend (וירדו) lower than animals if he forfeits the influence of G-d in his life? Would it not suffice to just have man descend to the level of his worldly nature? After all, animals are also created from the ground and do not possess the breath of G-d as man does. This is best explained through the use of metaphor:

Imagine there is a pile of lumber. The lumber in itself has value as a raw material. A craftsman can use it to create any number of things. Now assume the craftsman has taken the lumber and made an intricate chair with it. The chair is far superior to the lumber since the chair has been fashioned into something useful, and it remains far superior as long as it is able to be used properly. However, if the chair were to break (forfeit its purpose) then it would lose value and become worth less than the lumber. Even if the lumber splits in two, it is still useful. But when the chair breaks in two, it has less purpose than the lumber that made it.

G-d has fashioned us into a finished product, He took the dust of the earth and the breath of heaven and formed man into something that can be utilized for its higher purpose. But if man breaks his unity with heaven, which binds him together, he descends to a status lower than the raw material he was made from.

Why the dual nature? If G-d created man with only a soul from the upper realm (heaven), then he would live eternally and never die and thus they are deprived from death which is good. If man were created with only a body from the lower realm (olam/earth), he would eventually die and never live eternally. Thus, man had to be created with the advantage of both realms.

Death is very good

Is death really considered a good thing? Does G-d truly desire death so much that man could not exist without it?

Let’s look at the first instance of death being decreed on man for context. In Genesis 3, Adam partakes of the tree of knowledge of good and evil - and due to simple violation of a dietary law, he is sentenced to death. Does this really make sense though? Do we see any indication that violating kosher laws subjects a person to death? While the oral torah states a person is liable for 39 lashes, the written Torah has no prescribed punishment for breaking dietary laws. Is Adam the exception to the rule or is something else going on? After Adam’s death, there is very little said about Adam in Torah, however the prophets do speak of Adam in length.

“You were in Eden, the garden of G-d […] I created you as a cherub” Ezekiel 28:13-4

Ezekiel speaks to the king of Tyre, but something is off. Did Ezekiel really believe that Hiram (king of Tyre) was in Eden? Of course not, but it was as though he was because it is because of people like him, the attitude that Adam brought into the world, that Adam had to die. Similarly we see Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, being described:

How you have fallen from heaven [...] Once you thought in your heart, I will ascend higher than the stars of G-d [...] instead you will be brought down to Sheol, to the bottom of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15

Humanity would continually grow in intellect and become more like G-d, but due to their nature, they would perverse that blessing and believe they themselves are gods. It wouldn't be long before mankind would reject G-d all-together and create their own definitions of good and evil as they saw fit.

When G-d decreed death on Adam, it ensured that all mankind would die and avoid humanity's false god complex. Even in the face of trials, tribulations, and illnesses, man creates excuses even for their false gods. In Greek mythology, Zeus had his sinews ripped out by Typhon, and Odin had his eye plucked out - yet they were still honored as gods because sickness is not sufficient to debunk a claim of divinity for man. Those who believe that they themselves are gods would be even harder to convince otherwise. It is death alone that proves every man is not the source of creation. If man can’t even have power over the force that animates his own body, then surely he isn't the source of animation for other bodies.

There's a story about Hadrian, the Roman emperor who took part in destroying the second temple which paints a beautiful picture of man trying to be a god:

Hadrian said, "I fought against G-d and won. I burned His house, I enslaved His people, and destroyed His land, therefore I am also a god." Three of his wisest ministers were beside him. The first said, "How can you claim you are a god when you haven't even left his palace yet? Leave heaven and earth and then we will believe you." But Hadrian said, "Not all conquerors leave the land they came to possess after the former one has left it!" The second minister said, "My ship with precious cargo is lost at sea and no one is able to locate it. If you can bring my ship to shore, I will serve you as a god." Hadrian said, "This too is simple, I will send my fleet out and return your ship. They will find your ship, throw them ropes, and tow them back to shore." The third minister said, "Why do you complicate it so much? The G-d of Israel was able to split the sea and control the waters. Why not just command the water to bring it ashore? Do that and I will honor you as a god." Hadrian was angry with his ministers for demanding such ridiculous requests and went home to express his frustration to his wife. After hearing the requests of the ministers, his wife said, "Just do one thing and even the Jews will bow to you and consider you a god. Return your soul to G-d." Hadrian was outraged and said, "If I forfeit my soul, I will die!" His wife responded sharply, "How can you claim to be a god if you still rely on Him as the source and sustainer for your own life?"

The story serves as a great reminder for those who wish to be acknowledged as a god. The cunning wife ultimately instructs Hadrian to serve G-d, creator of the universe and sustains life, because it is G-d alone who is immortal. Death demonstrates mankind's inability to sustain anything on his own, for man can't even sustain himself without the help of G-d.

Why do the righteous die?

We may easily be able to explain why the wicked must die, but why do the righteous need to die? With repentance on the table, why not allow death for sinful lives (who refuse to repent) and continued life for those who live righteously? This approach has some significant flaws.

What if the righteous lived eternally and the wicked perished? Then evil people would follow suit and say, “I also repent!” but in their hearts, they are dishonest. They believe deeds are the key to life and not an internal change. So they perform deeds as a selfish tool for continuing life while having hearts against G-d. They would be eternally separated from G-d while living eternally.

You might say, “But G-d knows every man’s heart, and He can do away with the dishonest ones and allow the sincere to live!” But people will look towards someone who outwardly looks sincere and repents - but in his heart, he is dishonest. They will then say, “Surely he was righteous! Yet he died! Good deeds and repentance have no significance!”

Lastly, if the righteous were to live eternally, those who are wicked would look to the righteous and deify them, making them gods. Why is this? Because it is the nature of creation to seek a Creator, it is one of our primary functions on earth. Those who have taken the identity of the ‘world’ and forfeited the identity of ‘heaven’ will seek to make a Creator out of anything. Since they have fallen below the animals in stature and are more distant from G-d than all of creation, they will idolize the immortal ones and never seek life. Everyone dies, and everyone that dies is a demonstration that they are not the Creator of life, for only the Creator of life cannot die.

[G-d] alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:16

The double portion & final form

Since the righteous who have repented are not truly deserving of death, what benefit is there for the righteous to die? It is to give a double portion to both the wicked and the righteous.

For the wicked, they receive two deaths - one on account of being wicked and another for being the reason the righteous had to die.

Devastate them with double disaster Jeremiah 17:18

For the righteous, they receive a double reward - one for experiencing death which they did not deserve, and another for the righteousness they brought into the world.

Therefore they will inherit a double portion in their land, and eternal gladness will be theirs Isaiah 67:7

Death also purifies the world. For the wicked, death destroys them through their destruction, the world is purified of wickedness. For the righteous, death is temporary which allows a great descent for the sake of a greater ascension. When the righteous die, they will be resurrected into a purer and higher spiritual form of perfection capable of approaching the presence of G-d and receiving their eternal rewards.

Thus, death is not only a good thing for both the righteous and wicked, but it is necessary for the completion of man. It is necessary for the creation of the world. It is necessary for people to have a true free will and evaluate the path they wish to follow in life. This is why scripture creates man and says:

"Behold it was very good" Genesis 1:31

The term "behold" implies something new revealed. But what is not yet revealed? What is not yet mentioned in creation? Many of the sages view "very good" as relating to death. It was not until Adam sinned that death was fully revealed. Yet here, after Adam's creation, we have something new, something to "behold" but it is hidden from plain reading. After all, death is the one thing that keeps man on the right path, allows men to find the concealed One, and is the ultimate fence around creation to keep it from straying too far off course.

The world (olam/concealment) is filled with death, and G-d is life. If you truly want to find life, you must unify your body with the will of G-d. You must unify the two realms within yourself by aligning your inner will and intent with G-d's will, and have dominion over your 'animal', the creation side of you. Approach the world with the mindset "Let US", and when you face death, know that this too is very good at its proper time. For it is G-d who sustains you, and it is G-d who determines when your mission is complete and to claim your reward. But also remember, it is also G-d who determines when someone must be removed to uplift creation and cleanse it from further damage.