By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
EL CAJON, California — As we learn from “The Parasha Song” from Torah Island by Suki and Ding, “With Bereishit we begin learning Torah, How precious we hold our Mesorah, Bereishit, 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. So, the wise, instead, adopt a curious mindset. Instead of predicting catastrophic endings, 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 parsha is the message that comes with the unfolding of creation. We humans come after all the other creations. Why?
For an answer to grow with, investigate 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 Hashem 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. Clearly, we are fully dependent on Him for the gift of our lives, for our survival.
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.” Genesis Rabbah 8:6 justifies how the creation of humanity was one of Hashem’s end-goals for creation. After all, He first created all the plants and animals for humans to eat. It was not until after human food was ready-to-go that He created humans. We entered the world with everything He thought we needed. Do we really need more?
This leads to a key lesson in Bereishit, and a wonderful way to begin learning Torah in this new year. Humility. Self-effacement. Humbleness. Modesty.
As the new year begins with Bereishit, we can begin anew, with a renewed sense of commitment to act in all ways “b’tzelem Elohim.” One essential responsibility we have is to value and unite with every member of our dynamic and diverse community of humanity. We are taught to look beyond the outside of fellow humans and to see that which lies within – and ultimately to be grateful for being created in Hashem’s image. Not better than another, not beneath another…but “b’tzelem Elohim.”
We are to foster modesty, humility, restraint. After all, Rashi teaches, Hashem did not need any advice, but He turned to His angels for counsel.
In our society we may have elevated power over others and Bereishit tells us this is a mistake and with the beginning of a new year, tells us we have another chance. A valued leader is one who has anava, humility or modesty. This is a leader who exercises power in a proper way. Imagine what our society would be like if modesty and humility were authentically valued instead of a dangerous, harmful, unquenchable quest for power. Let’s ponder the well-known phrase from Pirke Avot. the Ethics of the Fathers: “Who is wise? He who learns from every man. Who is honorable? He who honors his fellow men.” Humility. Self-effacement. Humbleness. Modesty.
Another 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 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.
Do we make mistakes? Sure, we do. Immediately following Yom Kippur we klop our chests for the mistakes we made as we say Maariv. Mistakes we made? Over Yom Kippur that just ended a moment ago? Sure, we are fallible human beings.
To respond more functionally to our perceived failures or transgressions, contemporary psychology suggests a three-step process:
- Acknowledge your specific behavior or thought without overgeneralizing and rating your entire self. You aren’t a worm for acting wormily.
- Allow for an appropriate level of healthy negative emotion, such as regret or concern, without spiraling into depression or anxiety.
- Focus your cognitive and behavioral efforts on future improvement rather than ruminating on past actions.
By adopting this rational, future-oriented approach, we can learn from our experiences without becoming mired in self-defeating thought patterns. This method promotes a new beginning with resilience, self-acceptance, and continual personal development.
On this auspicious week of beginning again, 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 Bereishit 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 would be wise to 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, these are what are required.
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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