Almost everything you want to know about creation TB Haggigah 11 and 12

Starting with daf TB Haggigah 11 we begin the second chapter of our massekhet. Because of the special nature of the topic or the esoteric nature of the topic, the Mishnah limits the class-size to make sure that the students pay full attention to the teacher so no future mistakes will be made. “One may not expound the topic of forbidden sexual relations before three or more individuals; nor may one expound the act of Creation and the secrets of the beginning of the world before two or more individuals; nor may one expound by oneself the Design of the Divine Chariot, a mystical teaching with regard to the ways God conducts the world, unless he is wise and understands most matters on his own.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Gemara clarifies that the classroom studying the topic of forbidden sexual relations may contain no more than two students and one teacher; the classroom studying the topic of the act of creation and the secrets of the beginning of the world may contain no more than one student and one teacher; and one better stay away from the understanding of Merkavah mysticism (meditating upon God’s chariot as envisioned by Ezekiel in chapter 1 of his book) unless he is very wise because this mysticism is just too dangerous for the ordinary person.

The Gemara on daf 11 also explains why the topic of forbidden sexual relations that are not explicitly in the Torah is different from all other topics. “The halakha of forbidden sexual relations is different, for the Master said: Robbery and forbidden sexual relations are sins that one’s soul covets and lusts after. Therefore, we are concerned that one who has not properly studied these matters with his teacher will rule leniently for himself.” (Sefaria.org translation) Our yetzer hara, our drive for instant gratification, can rationalize anything and everything. When learning this material the students must be focused and not be distracted by anything extraneous.

Today’s daf TB Haggigah 12 continues the discussion about the rabbinic understanding of Creation that began on yesterday’s daf. “Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Ten things were created on the first day of Creation, and they are as follows: Heaven and earth; tohu and vohu, i.e., unformed and void; light and darkness; wind and water; the length of day and the length of night.” (Sefaria.org translation) Ramban in commentary on Genesis 1 writes that these 10 building blocks of creation were in essence “a very thin line substance devoid of corporeality but having a power potency, for to assume form and to proceed from potentiality into reality. This was the primary matter created by God; is called by the Greeks hyly (matter). After the hyly, He did not create anything, but He formed and made things with it and from these hyly He brought everything into existence enclose the forms and put them into a finished condition.” (Ramban: Commentary on Torah, Genesis, translated by Rabbi Charles Chevel, page 23) God created everything He needed on that first day and shaped these building blocks into the forms described on the following six days. Ramban also writes that the earth represents the physical world and the heavens represent the metaphysical world.

Although there is no better time to study Torah, our daf indicates that the night is especially a favorable time. “Reish Lakish said: Whoever occupies himself with Torah at night, the Holy One, Blessed be He, extends a thread of kindness over him by day, as it is stated: ‘By day, the Lord will command His kindness,’ and what is the reason that ‘by day, the Lord will command His kindness’? Because “and in the night His song,” i.e., the song of Torah, ‘is with me.’ And some say that Reish Lakish said: Whoever occupies himself with Torah in this world, which is comparable to night, the Holy One, Blessed be He, extends a thread of kindness over him in the World-to-Come, which is comparable to day, as it is stated: ‘By day, the Lord will command His kindness, and in the night His song is with me.’” (Sefaria.org translation)

Today’s daf contains some very well famous midrashim like the one that resolves the following problem. If the sun, moon, and constellations were only created on the fourth day, what was this light that was created on the first day?

“Rabbi Elazar, as Rabbi Elazar said: The light that the Holy One, Blessed be He, created on the first day was not that of the sun but a different kind of light, through which man could observe from one end of the world to the other. But when the Holy One, Blessed be He, looked upon the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Dispersion and saw that their ways were corrupt and that they might misuse this light for evil, He arose and concealed it from them, as it is stated: “And from the wicked their light is withheld” (Job 38:15).

“And for whom did He conceal it? For the righteous people in the future, as it is stated: “And God saw the light, that it was good” (Genesis 1:4), and “good” is referring to none other than the righteous, as it is stated: “Say of the righteous that it shall be good for them, for they shall eat the fruit of their actions” (Isaiah 3:10).

When the light saw that it had been concealed for the righteous, it rejoiced, as it is stated: “The light for the righteous shall rejoice” (Proverbs 13:9).” (Sefaria.org translation)

Are you interested in learning about the upper worlds? Today’s daf reveals the rabbinic view of the seven levels of heaven. “Reish Lakish said: There are seven firmaments, and they are as follows: Vilon, Rakia, Sheḥakim, Zevul, Ma’on, Makhon, and Aravot. The Gemara proceeds to explain the role of each firmament:” (Sefaria.org translation) If you’re interested in what is the role of each firmament, go to this sugiyah.