 Torah Thoughts
This coming Shabbat is a momentous
one. We read the Torah portion of Bereishit, thus beginning our annual
Torah-reading cycle. The "Days of Awe" and the "Season of our
Rejoicing" have passed. The new year now begins in earnest. This
Shabbat is the "first Shabbat of the rest of our lives." We now
have an opportunity to put into practice all the resolutions and positive
thoughts we had over the holidays. This Shabbat will set the tone for the
rest of the year. Let's make an extra special effort to make this one worthy
of being a template for those that follow.
This week's Torah portion is so rich and pregnant with
the deepest secrets that one could spend years studying it and nothing else.
It is a real challenge deciding what to explore this week. There is so much
hidden here that the sages of the Mishna warn that the esoteric secrets of
the story of Creation should only be studied under certain circumstances and
by worthy individuals.
Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) contains 146 verses
and one positive commandment.
A MEMO FOR THE U.N.-
IT'S TIME TO VOTE ON A NEW (YEAR'S) RESOLUTION
RaShI (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki 1040-1105), the famous
Torah commentator, quotes a Sage asking why the Torah begins with the
narrative of Creation. After all, the word Torah means
"instruction". The Torah is not a history book, but a guide to
life. It should have begun with the first mitzvah given to the Jewish People-
the commandment of the New Moon, which is only mentioned later in the book of
Exodus. The Sage explains based on a verse in Psalms 111:6: "The might
of His works He declared to His Nation to give them the heritage of the
peoples."
The Sage continues: if the nations of the world tell Israel-
"You are thieves- you conquered land belonging to others", they
will respond- the world belongs to the Holy One, He created it, He
distributed it and by His will it was given to the Jewish People.
THE WORLD WITHIN
Why was a single human created, only to be subdivided
into male and female? The Oral Tradition teaches that Adam was created alone
to teach that all of creation came to be for the sake of an individual.
In Judaism one human life is of inestimable value. The murder of an
individual is equivalent to the destruction of an entire universe; the saving
of a life is equated with saving a universe.
Our sages also teach that one human was created first so
that no group could claim superiority, since all of humanity has the same
ancestor.
Our diversity is a testimony to G-d's greatness. When a
person makes objects from one mould, they are all alike. The products of
G-d's single template- Adam- are all different. Each one of us is unique,
although we have the same source.
Man was also created as an individual so that
each of his descendants would have to take responsibility for his actions.
Those who are criminal and delinquent cannot excuse themselves and
claim that it's in the genes- all of mankind comes from one source!
MAN OR MOSQUITO
Why was man created on the sixth day of Creation,
towards the end of the process? The Talmud explains that if Man becomes
arrogant and rebels against the purpose of his existence, he is put in his
place and reminded that he is not worthy- a mosquito was created before him.
In other words, the creature created before man always live up to their
potential, they were programmed thus. Man has freedom of choice- if he
does not live up to his potential he is less significant than a gnat that
does.
If man is worthy, he is viewed as an honored guest in
the King's new palace. The King makes sure that the palace is completed and
everything is in place before He welcomes in His special guest.
WHEN "BAD" IS VERY GOOD
After Man is created, G-d "reflects" on His
handiwork and sees that all he had made was "very good". Some say
that "good" refers to the good inclination in man. "Very
good" refers to the evil inclination. How could that be good, let alone
"very good"?
Man is the only creature created in the image of G-d-
meaning that he has freedom of choice. Animals and angels are merely
automatons. It is precisely the evil inclination that provides the
opportunity for choice. By conquering the evil inclination, one reveals its
true purpose- to assist us in soaring to great spiritual heights.
HAFTARA
Isaiah 42:5-43:10. The prophet mentions G-d who
creates the heavens and the earth. The present tense is used since the act of
creation is not complete. G-d renews creation at every moment, providing the
energy for the atomic components of existence to persist.
It is this G-d of creation Who supports and protects the
Jewish People, for they are supposed to be a light to the nations- a shining
moral example to inspire the rest of humanity. When they do not fulfill this
mission, they descend into the darkness of persecution. But Israel
will never be abandoned by G-d, who goes with them through the hellfire. The
Jewish People will ultimately recognize their mission and will be
restored.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Price
Technical
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