The expulsion from Gan Eden brought about opportunities for acts of kindness. Man must now toil by the sweat of his brow to survive. If he does this only for himself, he is selfish. If he does this for others, he emulates God in acts of kindness. As our sages (Shabbos 133b) explain the verse והלכת בדרכיו – And you shall walk in His ways (Devarim 28:9) “Just as He clothes the naked, visits the sick, comforts mourners, buries the dead, so shall you clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort mourners and bury the dead, etc.” This is the basis for Jewish גמילות חסדים. One now finds the House of Israel, scattered all over the world, a society of גומלי חסדים.
Anyone who wants can elevate himself to the heights of emulating God. This refutes the erroneous (Christian – GS) notion that the first sin brought a curse upon man and deprived his descendants of the purity of their souls. The very mitzvah to emulate God is derived from the expulsion from Gan Eden. Had man not been expelled from Gan Eden and become lacking and dependent on others for help, this mitzvah to emulate God would not have become a reality.
Beraishis 3:21
pages 116-117 (in the new Hirsch Chumash)
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