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Why does the Torah (תורה) stress that vegetation produces "seed" rather than focusing on the plants themselves? The emphasis on seeds over finished products appears throughout Torah - even Seder Zeraim focuses on seeds despite most of its laws governing fruits and grains. This pattern suggests seeds represent something fundamental about how Hashem (ה׳) designed creation to function.
Rabbi Zweig examines a fundamental question about the creation narrative in Bereishis: why does the Torah (תורה) emphasize that vegetation produces "seed" rather than focusing on the plants and fruits themselves? He notes that Hashem (ה׳) could have designed creation differently - the earth could have continuously regenerated vegetation each year without requiring seeds for reproduction, similar to how trees produce new fruit annually without replanting. The emphasis on seeds becomes even more puzzling when examining the structure of Shas. The sixth order of the Talmud (תלמוד) is called "Zeraim" (Seeds), yet most of its tractates deal not with seeds but with finished products. Tractate Brachos discusses blessings made on fruits, not seeds. The laws of Pe'ah concern leaving portions of the harvest - dealing with vegetables and grains, not seeds. Bikkurim relates to first fruits, Ma'aser to tithing finished produce, and Challah to prepared bread from grain.
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Bereishis - Creation of vegetation
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