Angel or Menace

In the Torah portion of Terumah, which generally falls out just before the holiday of Purim, G-d commands the Jewish people to create a mishkan, a tabernacle, and He will dwell in their midst. Amongst the furnishings of the mishkan we find detailed blueprints for the Aron, the Golden Ark, which occupied the Holy of Holies. G-d tells Moses to form two golden Cherubim with outspread wings to cover the ark, and to put the Tablets containing the Ten Commandments within.

There are only two instances in Torah, where the word Cherubim is used: Presently, in regards to the construction of the Holy Ark, and previously, in the first Torah portion of Beraishit, when Adam is banished from the Garden of Eden.

 The Torah recounts that upon eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, G-d expelled Adam from the garden and prevented him from reentering by a guard of destructive angels called Cherubim. Now, as the Jews are constructing the tabernacle, our sages explain Cherubim to mean innocent children, etymologically related to the Aramaic word Cheribah, child.

How can the same word Cherub have two diametrically opposed meanings?

Precisely within these two narratives lays our answer. Every child has the capacity to be angelic or destructive, depending on values he or she is raised with.

Adam’s life in the Garden of Eden was a life free of toil. It was a life of abundance, with everything available and accessible to him. G-d withheld just one thing from him, the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The irrational desire for the one forbidden thing, drove Adam to his ruin, and created menacing angels.

Everything has its source in Torah and our sages explain that the source for Haman is hinted to in the words “Hamin haetz hazeh…” “Have you eaten from this tree...” referring to the incident of Adam, where he could not control himself from the one thing that was prohibited to him.

Like Adam, Haman’s destruction, too, was a result of a lack of self-restraint. He was the second in command to the Persian king Achashverosh, and possessed the king’s signet ring, giving him absolute power. Nevertheless, Haman said, “All this means nothing to me when I see Mordechai the Jew.”  Riches and supremacy left him discontented, because he lacked one thing, the subservience of Mordechai. Consequentially, Haman became obsessed with schemes to destroy Mordechai, paving the way to his downfall.

The Cherubim on the Golden Ark, on the other hand, had the faces of angelic children. They were founded upon the Ark that contained two sets of Tablets. The first pair of broken Tablets imbued a sense of humility, as they were incomplete, and the second pair of Tablets included all the explanations and lessons found in Torah. The contents of the Ark provided the Cherubim with solid base of morality, humility, and self-discipline.

Today, as our world enjoys unprecedented bounty, we vividly see the consequences of unfettered plenty and instant gratification. More people90o than ever are plagued by addiction, depression and narcissism. If a child does not know the virtues of restraint, self-control, and satisfaction with what they have, they can grow to become angels of self-destruction. Conversely, if a child has a strong foundation of morality, modesty, and restraint, they enjoy contentment, satisfaction, and peace of mind. When children are taught these important lessons, they become virtuous angels worthy to grace the Ark in the Holy of Holies.