January 20, 2022 (vol. 172, iss. 20) • Page Image 37
…JANUARY 20 • 2022 | 37 Adam, which comes from the Hebrew word adama, meaning “earth” or “ground.” What is the connection between the two? The Maharal explains that humans are similar to the ground in one essential respect: They are both pure potential. Whether or not a piece of land will produce fruit depends on what is done with it. Even the most fertile piece of land will not produce fruit if it is left to lie fallow; it needs ...…