Aspect | Description |
---|---|
Parasha Number | The 1st Parasha in the Torah and the 1st in the Book of Genesis (Bereshit). |
Parasha Name | Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית), meaning “In the beginning” in Hebrew, referring to the opening words of the Torah describing the creation of the world. |
Torah Book | Genesis (Bereshit). |
Number of Verses | Comprises 146 verses. |
Number of Words | Approximately 2,425 words in the Hebrew text. |
Primary Characters | Key figures include God, Adam, Eve, the serpent, Cain, and Abel. |
Key Themes | Explores the creation of the world, the formation of man and woman, the concept of free will, the introduction of sin, and the beginning of humanity’s relationship with God. |
Significant Events | The creation of the world in six days, the formation of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, the first sin and exile from Eden, and the story of Cain and Abel. |
Notable Quotes | “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) |
Legacy | Parashat Bereshit lays the foundation of creation, the human experience, and the moral challenges humanity faces, setting the stage for the themes of the Torah. |
Relevance Today | The themes of creation, purpose, responsibility, and moral choice continue to influence Jewish thought on the nature of humanity and our relationship with the divine. |
Well-Known Stories | Creation of the world, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the first sin, and Cain and Abel. |
Special Observances | Read at the beginning of the Torah reading cycle, often accompanied by discussions on creation, the nature of humanity, and the responsibilities of free will. |
Connections to Texts | Bereshit introduces fundamental concepts developed throughout the Torah, including creation, covenant, sin, and redemption. |
Theological Significance | Highlights themes of creation ex nihilo (out of nothing), divine order, and human responsibility in God’s world. |
Parashat Bereshit, the first portion of the Torah, is a fundamental and rich text in Jewish tradition. It spans the first chapters of the book of Genesis, detailing the creation of the world, the origins of humanity, and the early stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs.
Creation of the World: The parashah begins with the famous line, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” It describes the process of creation, with God creating light, separating the sky from the waters, forming land, and populating the earth with plants, animals, and eventually, humans. This narrative serves as the foundation for the Jewish understanding of the world’s origins.
Creation of Humanity: Bereshit also recounts the creation of Adam and Eve, the first humans, in the image of God. Their story in the Garden of Eden, the temptation by the serpent, and their subsequent expulsion for disobedience are well-known narratives, exploring themes of free will, temptation, and consequences.
The Early Generations: The parashah continues with the genealogy of Adam and Eve’s descendants, highlighting figures such as Cain and Abel and the long-lived Methuselah. It discusses the spread of humanity across the earth, the development of early civilizations, and the growing divide between humanity and God.
Noah and the Flood: Parashat Bereshit also introduces the story of Noah and the great flood, a significant event in the Bible. Noah, a righteous man, is chosen by God to build an ark and preserve life during a catastrophic flood meant to cleanse the earth of its corruption. This story explores themes of righteousness, divine judgment, and renewal.
Tower of Babel: The parashah concludes with the Tower of Babel narrative, where humanity, in its arrogance, attempts to build a tower reaching the heavens. God responds by confusing their languages, leading to the dispersion of people across the earth. This story addresses themes of human ambition, pride, and divine intervention.
Key Themes: Bereshit is foundational to many key Jewish beliefs and practices. It introduces the concept of the Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of rest and reflection. The parashah also explores themes of human nature, morality, and the relationship between humanity and the divine.
Relevance Today: Beyond its religious significance, Parashat Bereshit raises essential questions about the origins of life, the nature of humanity, and our relationship with the environment. It continues to be a source of reflection, sparking discussions about ethics, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
In summary, Parashat Bereshit is a vital text in Jewish scripture, providing insights into the creation of the world, the early history of humanity, and fundamental themes that continue to resonate with readers across different cultures and beliefs.
בראשית
Genesis
Genesis 1:1-6:8
creating it in the image of God—
creating them male and female.
“This one at last
Is bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh.
This one shall be called Woman,
For from a Human was she taken.”
“Because you did this,
More cursed shall you be
Than all cattle
And all the wild beasts:
On your belly shall you crawl
And dirt shall you eat
All the days of your life.
Between you and the woman,
And between your offspring and hers;
They shall strike at your head,
And you shall strike at their heel.”
“I will greatly expand
Your hard labor—and your pregnancies;
In hardship shall you bear children.
Yet your urge shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
Cursed be the ground because of you;
By hard labor shall you eat of it
All the days of your life:
But your food shall be the grasses of the field;
Shall you get bread to eat,
Until you return to the ground—
For from it you were taken.
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
“Why are you distressed,
And why is your face fallen?
There is uplift.
But if you do not do right
Sin couches at the door;
Its urge is toward you,
Yet you can be its master.”
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
O wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech.
I have slain a person for wounding me,
And a lad for bruising me.
Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
ישעיהו
מ״ב:ה׳-כ״א
אֲנִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ בְצֶ֖דֶק וְאַחְזֵ֣ק בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ לִבְרִ֥ית עָ֖ם לְא֥וֹר גּוֹיִֽם׃
לִפְקֹ֖חַ עֵינַ֣יִם עִוְר֑וֹת לְהוֹצִ֤יא מִמַּסְגֵּר֙ אַסִּ֔יר מִבֵּ֥ית כֶּ֖לֶא יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא שְׁמִ֑י וּכְבוֹדִי֙ לְאַחֵ֣ר לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֔ן וּתְהִלָּתִ֖י לַפְּסִילִֽים׃
הָרִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת הִנֵּה־בָ֑אוּ וַֽחֲדָשׁוֹת֙ אֲנִ֣י מַגִּ֔יד בְּטֶ֥רֶם תִּצְמַ֖חְנָה אַשְׁמִ֥יעַ אֶתְכֶֽם׃ {פ}
שִׁ֤ירוּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֔שׁ תְּהִלָּת֖וֹ מִקְצֵ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ יוֹרְדֵ֤י הַיָּם֙ וּמְלֹא֔וֹ אִיִּ֖ים וְיֹשְׁבֵיהֶֽם׃
יִשְׂא֤וּ מִדְבָּר֙ וְעָרָ֔יו חֲצֵרִ֖ים תֵּשֵׁ֣ב קֵדָ֑ר יָרֹ֙נּוּ֙ יֹ֣שְׁבֵי סֶ֔לַע מֵרֹ֥אשׁ הָרִ֖ים יִצְוָֽחוּ׃
יָשִׂ֥ימוּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה כָּב֑וֹד וּתְהִלָּת֖וֹ בָּאִיִּ֥ים יַגִּֽידוּ׃
יְהֹוָה֙ כַּגִּבּ֣וֹר יֵצֵ֔א כְּאִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמ֖וֹת יָעִ֣יר קִנְאָ֑ה יָרִ֙יעַ֙ אַף־יַצְרִ֔יחַ עַל־אֹיְבָ֖יו יִתְגַּבָּֽר׃ {ס}
הֶחֱשֵׁ֙יתִי֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם אַחֲרִ֖ישׁ אֶתְאַפָּ֑ק כַּיּוֹלֵדָ֣ה אֶפְעֶ֔ה אֶשֹּׁ֥ם וְאֶשְׁאַ֖ף יָֽחַד׃
אַחֲרִ֤יב הָרִים֙ וּגְבָע֔וֹת וְכׇל־עֶשְׂבָּ֖ם אוֹבִ֑ישׁ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י נְהָרוֹת֙ לָאִיִּ֔ים וַאֲגַמִּ֖ים אוֹבִֽישׁ׃
וְהוֹלַכְתִּ֣י עִוְרִ֗ים בְּדֶ֙רֶךְ֙ לֹ֣א יָדָ֔עוּ בִּנְתִיב֥וֹת לֹא־יָדְע֖וּ אַדְרִיכֵ֑ם אָשִׂים֩ מַחְשָׁ֨ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶ֜ם לָא֗וֹר וּמַֽעֲקַשִּׁים֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים עֲשִׂיתִ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עֲזַבְתִּֽים׃
נָסֹ֤גוּ אָחוֹר֙ יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ בֹ֔שֶׁת הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑סֶל הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה אַתֶּ֥ם אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
הַחֵרְשִׁ֖ים שְׁמָ֑עוּ וְהַעִוְרִ֖ים הַבִּ֥יטוּ לִרְאֽוֹת׃
מִ֤י עִוֵּר֙ כִּ֣י אִם־עַבְדִּ֔י וְחֵרֵ֖שׁ כְּמַלְאָכִ֣י אֶשְׁלָ֑ח מִ֤י עִוֵּר֙ כִּמְשֻׁלָּ֔ם וְעִוֵּ֖ר כְּעֶ֥בֶד יְהֹוָֽה׃
(ראית) [רָא֥וֹת] רַבּ֖וֹת וְלֹ֣א תִשְׁמֹ֑ר פָּק֥וֹחַ אׇזְנַ֖יִם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמָֽע׃
יְהֹוָ֥ה חָפֵ֖ץ לְמַ֣עַן צִדְק֑וֹ יַגְדִּ֥יל תּוֹרָ֖ה וְיַאְדִּֽיר׃
Genesis
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and what it brings forth,
Who gave breath to the people upon it
And life to those who walk thereon:
And I have grasped you by the hand.
I created you, and appointed you
A covenant people, a light of nations —
Rescuing prisoners from confinement,
From the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
I will not yield My glory to another,
Nor My renown to idols.
And now I foretell new things,
Announce to you ere they sprout up.
Praise from the ends of the earth—
You who sail the sea and you creatures in it,
You coastlands and their inhabitants!
The villages where Kedar dwells;
Let Sela’s inhabitants shout,
Call out from the peaks of the mountains.
And tell God’s glory in the coastlands.
Whipping up rage like a fighter—
Yelling, roaring aloud,
Then charging upon the enemy.
Kept still and restrained Myself;
Now I will scream like a woman in labor,
I will pant and I will gasp.
Cause all their green to wither;
I will turn rivers into isles,
And dry the marshes up.
By a road they did not know,
And I will make them walk
By paths they never knew.
I will turn darkness before them to light,
Rough places into level ground.
These are the promises—
I will keep them without fail.
Shall be those who trust in an image,
Those who say to idols,
‘You are our gods!’”
You blind ones, look up and see!
So deaf as the messenger I send?
Who is so blind as the chosen one,
So blind as GOD’s servant?
With ears open, he hears nothing.
That he may magnify and glorify the Teaching.
Bereshit
more on Parashat Parashat Bereshit: Creation of World
Quick Guide: The Five Books of Moses
Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bereshit (1:1-6:8) |
Shemot (1:1-6:1) |
Vayikra (1:1-5:26) |
Bemidbar (1:1-4:20) |
Devarim (1:1-3:22) |
Noach (6:9-11:32) |
Va'era (6:2-9:35) |
Tzav (6:1-8:36) |
Naso (4:21-7:89) |
Va'etchanan (3:23-7:11) |
Lech Lecha (12:1-17:27) |
Bo (10:1-13:16) |
Shemini (9:1-11:47) |
Behaalotecha (8:1-12:16) |
Ekev (7:12-11:25) |
Vayera (18:1-22:24) |
Beshalach (13:17-17:16) |
Tazria (12:1-13:59) |
Shelach (13:1-15:41) |
Re'eh (11:26-16:17) |
Chaye Sarah (23:1-25:18) |
Yitro (18:1-20:23) |
Metzora (14:1-15:33) |
Korach (16:1-18:32) |
Shoftim (16:18-21:9) |
Toledot (25:19-28:9) |
Mishpatim (21:1-24:18) |
Achare Mot (16:1-18:30) |
Chukat (19:1-22:1) |
Ki Tetze (21:10-25:19) |
Vayetze (28:10-32:3) |
Teruma (25:1-27:19) |
Kedoshim (19:1-20:27) |
Balak (22:2-25:9) |
Ki Tavo (26:1-29:8) |
Vayishlach (32:4-36:43) |
Tetzave (27:20-30:10) |
Emor (21:1-24:23) |
Pinchas (25:10-30:1) |
Nitzavim (29:9-30:20) |
Vayeshev (37:1-40:23) |
Ki Tisa (30:11-34:35) |
Behar (25:1-26:2) |
Matot (30:2-32:42) |
Vayelech (31:1-30) |
Miketz (41:1-44:17) | Vayakhel (35:1-38:20) |
Bechukotai (26:3-27:34) |
Masei (33:1-36:13) |
Haazinu (32:1-52) |
Vayigash (44:18-47:27) |
Pekude (38:21-40:38) |
V'Zot HaBeracha (33:1-34:12) |
||
Vayechi (47:28-50:26) |