There were ten pre-deluge Patriarchs. Enoch was the seventh. What were the key characteristics of the pre-deluge Patriachs? How did Enoch differ from this pattern?

Pre-deluge Patriarchs served to mark large time passages. Each lived for several centuries, had a son to carry on after him, and died. Enoch varied from this pattern in two ways.

First, he lived only 365 years. Contrast this to his grandson Metushelach (Methuselah) who is said to have lived nine hundred years. Why and how did he depart from this life so prematurely?

Second, all mortals who reside on this earth die. Enoch did not. He was taken from life directly to paradise. How and Why?

Enoch pleased G-d, and was translated into paradise. There, Enoch is appointed guardian of all celestial treasures. He is made chief of all the angels. He was to be an immediate attendant to the throne of G-d Himself.

There Enoch is taught all the secrets and mysteries of G-d. Whatever G-d decrees, Enoch is of his own volition to be G-d's instrument of fulfilling such proclamations. Enoch means to be initiated.

He is said to have invented writing, mathematics, and astronomy. This is his method of conveying how to be initiated into the secrets and mysteries of G-d.

Enoch is also known as Metatron following his transfiguration. This is a name for the angel who communicates G-d's word. Enoch is the one who communicated the word of G-d to Moses on Sinai (Mi Peh El, Torah Moshe meh Seenai, - From the mouth of G-d to Moses on Sinai).

Rashi, a famous Biblical commentator states that Enoch was a righteous man who was taken away from corrupting influences around him. G-d took him away from this to prove G-d is not so cruel as to accept corruption of the righteous. It is for this reason that we on Yom Kippur turn away from sin and return to purity by Repentance as a community. In Hebrew, Repentance, (Teshuvah) means to return. On a daily basis, we are free and encouraged as individuals by G-d to turn away from the corrupting influences of society, and return our souls to their original pristine state.

Enoch, as a master of time and space is said to return to earth periodically and randomly to help those in need. He is also credited for helping those ready for the study of Kabbalah attain understanding of the Sodot, the secret meanings of Scripture.

In future articles, I plan to address some issues in Kabbalah, the Divine Plan.

May G-d bless and enlighten us all. Each in accordance with our ability to handle and make constructive use of the truth.