VOLUME 118 NUMBER 1
Tishrei 25, 5786
October 17, 2025
Parshas Bereishis
Candlelighting Time 5:59
We finished another cycle of reading the Torah and now we begin anew from the first parsha, Bereishis. That word actually means the beginning but is that what it is? After all, we did the same thing last year and all the years before. Are we always just beginning? Is there no end!
K’sav Sofer cites two famous Midrashim that the word ‘Bereishis,’ the first word in the parsha alludes to Torah and the Jewish nation. Truthfully, they are one and the same. The world was created with the intention that we would accept the Torah on Mt. Sinai thousands of years later and furthermore, the ongoings in this world are beholden to the Torah. In other words, our allegiance to the Torah and continuous observance of the mitzvos can reshape the landscape of the world and what occurs within the parameters of civilization. And this theme connects the end of the Torah with its beginning. Under Moshe’s leadership as the representative of Hashem to our nation he triggered many wondrous miracles starting with the ten devastating plagues that destroyed the Egyptian empire and all through our sojourn in the desert he led the people with the Cloud of Glory and the Cloud of Fire. Additionally, we were surrounded and protected with many clouds around the encampment. Furthermore, a source of water accompanied the nation in the desert providing them with a life sustaining drink with the Manna that fell every morning besides Shabbos. All of these events were a result of our undying resolution to accede to Hashem’s will which we accepted as our mission at Mt. Sinai. And therefore, the beginning of the Torah and its end are one vast cycle of Hashem’s compassionate guidance for His people.
The importance of this message is that the very fabric of the creation was established for our sake and all its ongoing and unfolding events are actually factored into the very essence of the world from its inception. We shouldn’t view what occurs as new developments that take place based upon political maneuvering, financial evolutions, or military coups rather everything was planned and organized from the onset of the entire universe as we know it that was brought into reality. This is a very profound statement detailing the vast expanses of the galaxies and myriad universes that may exist are only pawns in the constant saga of our nation within its scope of responsibility to bring the world to its fulfilment, as it was in the Garden of Eden before the sin of Adam.
Perhaps we can interject the words of the famed Vilna Gaon. He explains that the word ‘Bereishis’ connotes that before Hashem brought the world ex nihilo into its current form there was absolute oblivion that was present. Every year the world is recreated on Rosh Hashanah. Even though we don’t sense that transformation our Sages teach us that important concept. Therefore, just as before the original creation there was a definitive void, so too each and every year there is a ‘recreation’ of the entire universe. A new panorama with untold possibilities. We are given the opportunity and as a result the duty to convert the resources available to us into building blocks to enhance our lives, those of our extended family and all whom we come in contact with and elevate them to a higher level of living than they previously experienced.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
After the six days of creation Shabbos came and with it came a time for reflection called ‘menucha.’ Hashem’s ‘desire’ is to benefit us and we need to connect with Him acknowledging our relationship with Hashem and utilize it appropriately.
GOOD SHABB0S
