With Bereishis We Begin Learning Torah

Parasha Bereishis

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Mantell

SAN DIEGO —  As we learn from “The Parsha Song” from Torah Island by Suki and Ding,  “With Bereishis we begin learning Torah, How precious we hold our Mesorah, Bereishis, Noach, Lech Lecha, Vayeira, Chayei Sarah, Sarah lived for 127 years…” And on we go.

Yes, new beginnings often combine excitement with fear, positive anticipation with distress, success with failure, and smiles with frowns. Nobody knows the future, of course. So the wise, instead, adopt a curious mindset. Instead of predicting, they wonder what they may learn from the coming new year. Bereishit brings this opportunity for renewed learning.

One lesson I see in this week’s parasha is the message that comes with the unfolding of creation. We humans come after all of the other creations. Why?

For an answer to grow with, look into the Talmud, Sanhedrin 38a. Here we are told that if we came first, as some might haughtily believe we “should,” we and our children might erroneously believe that the creation of the world was NOT entirely Hashem’s doing, that somehow, we humans were co-architects, co-authors, of the world with Him. The lesson here is that God is the One who created the world and as Abarbanel teaches, did so with the deepest involvement of Divine Providence and wisdom. He said to the ministering angels, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” The latter, Rashi teaches, means with the power of understanding and intellect. According to the Abarbanel, unlike with other creations, God did not attribute our creation to the earth by decreeing, “Let the earth bring forth…” No, we are fully dependent on Him for the gift of our lives, for our survival.

This leads to another key lesson in Bereishis, and a wonderful way to begin learning Torah in this new year. Humility. Self-effacement. Humbleness. Modesty. We weren’t first in the list of creation. We were the last. Even behind snakes. As R’ Saadiah Gaon in Sanhedrin 38a teaches, He created us “like a person builds a palace and having furnished and decorated it, ushers in its owners so it is ready for immediate dwelling.” We entered the world with everything He thought we needed. Do we need more?

A third lesson comes from the day on which we were created, Friday, preparing immediately for the mitzvah of Shabbat. The first experience we have is to be reminded of the humility that Shabbat brings as we close down our imposition on the world, and the teaching that inside of every Shabbat is the remembrance that God is the source of all. This is a valued lesson to take as we embark on a new year, a new round of learning Torah, that on Shabbat we remind ourselves of our true place and are humble, not arrogant. May these lessons continue for us all throughout the year to come.

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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members at Congregation Adat Yeshurun.  He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com