Pesachim 54a, b

Today I will share some ideas gleaned from the daf:

• prayer over fire at the end of Shabbat, havdala, is recited because 
• fire was created at the end of Shabbat
• the fire has 'rested' over Shabbat and is now benefitting us

• Because "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9), these ten miracles were created in heaven at twilight on erev Shabbat to be revealed later:
• Miriam's well
• manna
• rainbow
• writing
• writing instrument
• tablets (10 commandments)
• Moses's grave
• the cave where Moses and Elijah stood
• Balaam's donkey's mouth
• the earth opening to swallow the wicked (with Korah)

• The rabbis list a number of items, like tongs, and debate whether they were designed in Heaven or whether man created the first prototype
• Was the fire of Gehenna (hell?) created on the second day, the sixth day, or in the second week?
• Perhaps Anah (and Aiah, sons of Zibeon), created the mule, as he too may have been the result of a prohibited relationship
• perhaps other things were created at twilight on erev Shabbat, including:
• Aaron's staff with almods and blossoms
• demons
• the garment of Adam, the first man (perhaps animals skins or perhaps made of light)

• Seven matters are hidden from people:
• the day of death
• the day of redemption (of the Jewish people for our sins)
• finding true justice in some disputes
• what is in another's heart
• how one will earn his/her profit
• when the monarchy of David will be restored
• when the wicked Roman monarchy will end

• Fundamental to the existence of the world are these three thoughts of G-d:
• corpses will rot
• the deceased will be forgotten from the heat over time
• grain will rot (thus we must sell rather than hoard our produce)
• and perhaps: currency will allow us to make payments

A new mishna tells us

• where people work on the 9th of Av, it is permitted to work
• where people do not work onthe 9th of Av, it is forbidden to work
• Torah scholars should do no work on the 9th of Av
• Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel: people should conduct ourselves as Torah scholars and not work that day

The Gemara elaborates:

• outside of Eretz Yisroel, we may not be called a community, and we are weaker
• thus we don't follow the prohibitions on intimacy, wearing leather shoes, and studying Torah over the 9th of Av and for mourners
• the 9th of Av and other communal fast days are different re: number of prayers, stringencies, bathing, etc.

Particularly interesting to me is the rabbi's conversation about what was created by G-d at the time of creation and what might have been created by human beings.  Did the rabbis all believe that the world was created by G-d in accordance with the particular creation myth in Genesis?  Or was it possible that they questioned the existence of a G-d who demonstrated intention, agency, etc.?  If they believed that the word of G-d was true and unquestionable, how might they explain the existence of any number of things?  Without attributing those creations to G-d, of course, created "in advance" but hidden from us until the time was right.

I wonder why I enjoy bumping these two ideas together - creationism and evolution in the Torah world.  Certainly I'm not the only one!