Parashat Bereishis
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
As we once more begin our annual reading of the Torah, we recount the grandeur of Hashem’s creation. Some may think they’ve already read it enough times to know it all.
But in his 1971 sermon on Parshat Bereishis, Rabbi Norman Lamm z”l asked how might we bring ourselves to Bereishis once again with a new perspective, ready for new learning. How can we look at Bereishis with renewed eyes?
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 once again. As we once more begin our annual reading of the Torah, we recount the grandeur of Hashem’s creation. Some may think they’ve already read it enough times to know it all.
But in his 1971 sermon on Parshat Bereishis, Rabbi Norman Lamm z”l asked how might we bring ourselves to Bereishis once again with a new perspective, ready for new learning. How can we look at Bereishis with renewed eyes?
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. Bereishis brings this opportunity for renewed learning.
But how is your mind set? Do you have an “aleph” or a “bet” mindset?
That’s what this week’s parasha, Berishit asks us…and points to a healthy answer. You see, we learn from Midrash, from Rabbi Nehunia Ben HaKana, that the Torah begins with “bet” because of the word, “Baruch” (“blessed”), and not with an “alef,” the first letter of “Arur” (“cursed”). This question is addressed in Bereishis Rabba 1:10, where it is phrased as why the world was created with a bet (rather than an aleph).
The way to inspire a “Beracha” mindset is to live with recognition of, and respect for, our tradition. We learn, “You shall not add to that which I command you and you shall not subtract from it, to keep the commandments of the L-rd your G-d…” (Deut. 4:2). For us to do the right thing, we must learn in the right way, respecting our Mesorah, not creating it, not ignoring where it begins, with the “aleph.” This may appear to be a small point, but from the beginning of our learning Torah once again, we demonstrate that for thousands of years before us, we have trust and delight in the way of Hashem. Renewed eyes wide open, mindful of new opportunities to learn new lessons, are required.
This leads to another key lesson in Bereishis, and a wonderful way to begin learning Torah in this new year with a new eye. What’s that new way? 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? Rashi teaches that one of the key attributes of morality we learn in this week’s reading is the attribute of anava, modesty, humility. The Maharal, Yehuda Aryeh Löwe of Prague, teaches, “that we are called to deal kindly with all of humanity and certainly not to cause harm to anyone’s physical being, financial welfare, or personal dignity nor to disgrace or diminish the Divine image in our fellow.” The diversity of humanity is a crucial component of this understanding. After all, we learn that Hashem created mankind b’tzelem Elohim, “in [the divine] image.”
The Targum Onkelos has a thought-provoking approach to Bereishis 2:7 “And the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the soul of life, and man became a living soul.” Onkelos translates the word “living” as “speaking.” Man became a speaking being and speech became the indispensable force of life. This is a key difference that differentiates humanity and persuades us towards the potential for meaningful and holy life. We must watch our words.
We are reminded that our job is to pay attention, to “be mindful,” of the infinite wonders in our world. The parasha teaches us that it is critical for us to maintain openness and curiosity regarding the world around us.
What we do now, like in every journey we experience in life, will determine our future. Every step we take now will make a difference in our lives and in the life of our rich community.
Perhaps another way to remind ourselves of the importance of bringing a new eye comes from the lesson of 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 our imposition on the world, and the teaching that inside of every Shabbat is the remembrance that Hashem 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. Let’s enjoy this year of Torah learning as something new and bring our newly refreshed perspective to all of our learning this coming year.
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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 of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com