Genesis 1:1–6:8
Parshat Bereishit
Bereishit opens the Torah with the creation of the world in six days and the first Shabbat. Adam and Eve are placed in the Garden of Eden, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are sent out; Cain kills Abel; and ten generations later humanity has grown so corrupt that G-d resolves to bring the Flood, finding favor only in the eyes of Noah.
Essays
E-Lights Bereishis – Touching Perfection Why did Eve add a prohibition against touching the Tree of Knowledge? The etrog tree, means and ends, and the Messianic vision. Parsha Bereishis – The War Against Evil We are all shaken up and in a state of profound sorrow at the barbaric, murderous attack against thousands of our brothers and… Holidays Simchas Torah – Beracha – Bereishis The second set of Tablets, did not radiate the same Divine luminescence as the first set. They were actually intended to empower us to ultimately absorb a higher form of Divine light. Moses was given and transmitted far more Torah knowledge than he would have received and transmitted had he not shat Parsha Breishis – A New World One of the greatest miracles of nature is the birth of a child. Judaism wants us to procreate in intellectual and spiritual ways as well. This will prepare us for the “New Age” of Moshiach Parsha Breishis – Acquisitions G-d does not need our sacrifices. We need them. To offer a sacrifice and think that G-d owes us the world is a blemished offering. That was the difference between Cain and Abel. Parsha Breishis – Adam and the Sin of the Forbidden Fruit Death and evil are not natural phenomena. It was superimposed on us by Adam and Eve. Life and goodness are natural. The more good we do we separate the evil from the good and death from life. Parsha Breishis – Apple and Eve? A beautiful person is one who thinks out of the box, is consistent and for who the means are just as important as the end. This person lives a rich and full life every moment. This is the Esrog-Beautiful-fruit personality. Parsha Breishis – Adam Saw Two, Not Three There are three focuses which lead us in the right direction: G-d, us and the rest of the world. To lead a wholesome life we cannot leave any item out of the equation. Parsha Breishis – Ayekah-Where Are You?-Then and Now A question has the capacity to jolt us out of our reverie. The first question in the Torah is G-d asking: Ayekah-here are you? This is the question we must always ask ourselves. Parsha Breishis – Cain and Abel and Basic Human Nature Jealousy and rivalry are the most primitive forms of evil. They will be the last to be eliminated. Our mission, at the end of this phase of history, is to prepare for that age. Parsha Breishis – Cain and Abel: Ideological Differences It is axiomatic in Judaism that humans and animals are world apart. Animals are part of nature. Humans are the outsiders who were charged with the responsibility to uplift nature. Parsha Breishis – G-d’s Preference There are two approaches to disciplining others. One can use light tactics or dark tactics. The Messianic Era is an Age of light. Preparing for it prefers using the “light” approach. Parsha Breishis – Gathering the Sparks G-d destroyed worlds before creating ours. We emulate G-d by removing the limiting structures we impose on ourselves. Parsha Breishis – Is It “Where Are You”???!!! Or, Is It: “Where Are You?” There are two ways of posing a challenge to another. We can either shout the question angrily or ask it softly and lovingly. The latter approach is the more successful one. Parsha Breishis – It’s All in the Head The head/brain contains all of the energy of the entire body. The “head” or first word of the Torah, Bereishis, contains within it all of the Torah and its objective to lead us to the Messianic Age. Parsha Breishis – Need to Be Needed We would be living in a perfect world if we could demonstrate that we are needed at least as much as we need. The two accounts of Creation of Man reflect this balance. Parsha Breishis – Perfection4 We are conditioned to believe in imperfection. That is true for one who lives with an exile mindset. In the liberated world of the future we will enjoy: perfect faith, Torah, healing, and Redemption. The initials of these four entities form the word Esrog—the perfect fruit. Parsha Breishis – Striking a Perfect Balance Ideologies generally stake out a position and true followers keep to it faithfully and rigidly. In Judaism, the goal is to incorporate and balance opposite traits and directions, even while leaning in a certain direction. Parsha Breishis – Sweet Grapes Life is about making or missing opportunities. Even when doing something wrong, we should be bothered most by what we did not do right. Parsha Breishis – The End in the Beginning A most basic human instinct is the hope for a better world. This hope was implanted in us from the very beginning of creation. It is the underlying meaning of the first Torah verse: “In the beginning.” The goal of creation was to actualize the plan that was embedded in the world from the moment of c Parsha Breishis – The First Letter and Beginning on Page Two Unity is central to Judaism: One G-d, one Torah, One Jewish nation. Yet, the Torah begins with the letter beis, which is the number two. It’s G-d’s way of saying “I want a relationship with you.” It’s what makes the connection between G-d and His world. Parsha Breishis – The Fig Leaf The power to fight evil is contained within the evil itself. Parsha Breishis – The First Word Revisited Ours is a world of falsehood. Torah is the very essence of objective and absolute truth. By connecting to the Torah we can transform our falsehood into truth. Parsha Breishis – The First Word The very first letter of the Torah translates as “because.” The most powerful word, arguably, is “because.” Because it says that there is a cause and that Creation is purposeful and that we are not accidents of birth. Parsha Breishis – The Four Kinds Torah comes in four dimensions known as Pardes, a delightful orchard. While we must know when and how to approach indulge, we must be prepared to master all of them. Parsha Breishis – The Leather Jacket Clothing serves two functions: It removes our shame and lends dignity. Mitzvos are spiritual clothing. They remove the soul’s embarrassment in its state of nakedness. And they also royal robes that brings us dignity. Parsha Breishis – The Letter of Truth and Peace Truth and Peace are the two Most Elusive Traits. Yet, it is precisely these two traits that will be validated in the imminent period of Redemption. Parsha Breishis – The Smallest Gap Torah is a paradox. It is the height of our intellectual pursuits. And it is utterly unfathomable! Parsha Breishis – The Tree of Knowledge: Haman’s Tree Knowledge is not inherently evil. What’s evil is the glorification of knowledge above G-d and G-dly behavior. When knowledge is used to rationalize evil it too becomes sullied. Parsha Breishis – Whose Land Is It? Every nation is entitled to have a land for itself. Only one nation has an inseparable and qualitative bond with its land: The Land of Israel for the People of Israel.