ויקרא רבה (וילנא) פרשה כה:ג
Rabbi Yehudah ben Shimon began his discourse with the text, "After the Lord your God shall you walk" (Devariim 12:5). But is it possible for a person of flesh and blood to walk after the Holy One, blessed be He?! … But in truth the Holy One, blessed be He, from the very beginning of the creation of the world, was before all else occupied with planting, as is proved by the text, "And first of all [mi-kedem, usually translated as "in the East"], the Eternal God planted a Garden in Eden" (Bereshit 2:8), and so do you also, when you enter into the land, occupy yourselves first with nothing else but planting; as it is written, "And when you come into the land, then you shall plant." [Translation by H. Freedman and Maurice Simon]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What was God’s first task after finishing creation and resting on Shabbat?
2. What is God more concerned with – growing or consuming?
3. How can we best follow in God’s footsteps as we interact with the world?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)