The Legends of the Jews, that monumental work by Louis Ginzberg, compiles centuries of Jewish folklore, and it paints a pretty incredible picture. It tells us that most of humankind inherited very little of Adam's beauty, or his massive size. Think about that for a second. The text implies Adam was huge. But the really interesting part is the beauty.
The text goes on to say something quite striking about beauty in general. It uses Sarah, our matriarch, as a benchmark. Compared to Sarah, the most beautiful women were like apes compared to humans. And Sarah compared to Eve was the same comparison – apes to humans. But Eve compared to Adam? Again, the same. His beauty was so radiant, so overwhelming, that even the soles of his feet obscured the sun! That’s… quite a statement.
So, what does that even mean? It's easy to dismiss this as hyperbole, but it speaks to something deeper, doesn't it? It suggests that the original human was created in a state of perfection, a state that we can barely comprehend now.
But it wasn’t just about looks. Adam's spiritual qualities matched his physical perfection. The Legends of the Jews says God fashioned his soul with particular care. And here, the text launches into a beautiful description of the soul itself. It says she – the soul – is the image of God.
Think about these parallels: As God fills the world, the soul fills the body. As God sees all things, and is seen by none, the soul sees but cannot be seen. As God guides the world, the soul guides the body. As God in His holiness is pure, so is the soul. And as God dwells in secret, so too does the soul.
Wow.
This isn't just about Adam anymore, is it? It's about us. It's about the spark of the Divine that resides within each of us. It's about the potential for beauty, for wisdom, for goodness that we all carry, however dimmed it might be by the realities of everyday life.
These ancient stories aren't just historical accounts; they're mirrors. They reflect back at us what we could be, what we were meant to be. And maybe, just maybe, they offer a glimpse of what we can still become.