Parashat Bereishit

From Zissil
Revision as of 20:06, 12 October 2020 by Dun (Talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search

Parashat Bereishit is the first Parsha in the Book of Bereishit and the first Parsha of the Torah.

Contents

Creation

In the beginning of Hashem creation[1] of Heaven and Earth the world was astonishingly[2] empty and desolate.[2] Darkness was on the face of the water upon deep earth.[2] The spirit of Hashem and His Throne of Glory[2] hovered over the face of the water, suspended in the air,[2] by the breath of His mouth and His word,[2] just like a dove hovering over its nest.[2]

The world was created in merit of the Torah,[1] in merit of Nation of Yisroel[1] and for the Truth.[3] Originally Hashem intended to create the World with the attribute of Justice since the highest levels of nullification to Hashem are attainable through harsh judgments, which would allow people to reach the ultimate goodness of great comprehension of Hashem. However He saw it could not last as most people would fail to achieve this nullification.[4] Instead he proceeded to create it with the attribute of Mercy and joined it with the attribute of Justice.[1]

Instead of starting the Torah by the instruction of Kidush Hachodesh,[5] the first publicly given commandment, the Torah starts from Creation to reveal the power of Hashem and that all belongs to Him and therefore the Jews had right to capture the Land of Canaan at His command.[1]


First Day

Hashem creates the sky, land and light. He said there should be light and there was light. Hashem saw the light that it was good and should not be mixed together with the darkness.[6] He then separates the light and darkness, giving boundaries to each,[6] calling the light day and the darkness night. Hashem also saw that it was not befitting for the wicked to access the original light was not so He separated it for the righteous to use in the future.[6] It was evening and then morning and the first day was over. During the first day only Hashem existed in the world, for the angels were not created until the second day.[7]

The sun and moon were also created on the first day, but only suspended in the sky on the 4th day.[8] Likewise all the creations of heaven and earth were created on the first day, but were only fixed in their proper places later on.[8]

Second Day

Hashem said there should be a firmament in the middle[9] of the water, separating the Upper and Lower Waters.[9] The heavens were created on the first day, but were is a state of moisture and the pillars of the heavens trembled the entire day.[9] On they second day they solidified from the rebuke of Hashem, when He said the above command, like a person who stands in awe from the rebuke of one who threatens him.[9]

Hashem made the firmament, establishing it on its base[10] and it separated between the water that were below and above it. Just like there is space between the oceans and the sky so to there is space between the sky and the Upper Waters,[9] all layers being suspended in place in the air[10] by the word of the King Hashem.[9]

Hashem named the firmament 'Heaven' (שמים) which is a combination of all the following words

  • שא מים - Carry water
  • שם מים - There is water there
  • אש ומים - Fire and water, since the Hashem mingled them together, creating the heavens from them.[11]

Also the Angels were created on the second day.[7] It was evening and then morning and the second day was over. Since the functionality of the Waters were not completed until the third day, it does not say 'It was good' since something that is incomplete is not fully good.[10]

Third Day

At this point the lower waters were spread out over the surface of the entire earth.[12] Hashem said the lower waters should gather into one pool and the dry land should appear. They were gathered into the Mediterranean ocean, the largest of all seas.[12]

Hashem named the dry area 'land' and the water 'oceans' and He saw that it was good. Although all the water is connected and is a single large sea, the flavor of a fish that comes up from the sea in Acco is different then a fish from Spain, therefore the body of water was named 'Oceans' in plural form.[13]

Hashem said, the earth should sprout a layer vegetation,[14] seed yielding herbs[14] and fruit trees producing fruit according to its kind in which its seeds[14] are found, so it can be replanted elsewhere[14] on the earth and trees will grow from it.[14]

It was so, the earth gave forth vegetation, seed yielding herbs according to its species, and trees producing fruit with seeds according to its species, and Hashem saw that it was good. Although the herbs did not receive a direct command to produce according to their set species, they heard the trees being commanded to do so and take an example for themselves.[15] It was evening and then morning, a third day.

Hashem had commanded that the taste of each tree should be like its fruit. However the earth did not do so and only produced taste in the actual fruits. Therefore when when Adam was cursed for his sin, the earth was also reimbursed for its sin and cursed.[14]

Hashem then creates the potential for grasses and fruit trees, although they did not sprout until the sixth day.

Since all the water related work was completed on the third day, 'It was Good' is mentioned twice once for the second day where it was omitted since the work was incomplete and once for the third day.[10]

Fourth Day

Hashem said there should be lights in the firmament of the heavens. Although the sun and moon were created on the first day, it was only on the 4th day that they were suspended in the sky.[8] They will separate between the day and between the night, they shall be for signs and for appointed seasons, for days and years.

The fourth day of the week is cursed day when children become ill with croup and therefore the men of the Mamad would fast on the 4th day so that children should not become ill with croup.[8]


Hashem pins the sun and moon in the firmament They are to rotate positions each day and restart their cycles once a year. They will serve the purpose of separate between day and night, create signals for establishing the Jewish holidays, provide light to the world, Hashem then shrinks the moon but creates it stars as a compensation.

Fifth Day

Hashem creates the sea and air animals.

Sixth Day

Hashem creates the land animals, Adam, Chava and Gan Eden.

Creation of Adam

Hashem creates Adam from the earth forming him with a G-dly image and then blowing a soul into him. Hashem blesses Adam to procreate and gives him dominance over the animals. He then permits the animals to eat vegetation but does not permit the eating of flesh. After Adam prays for rain, the vegetation begins to grow.

Creation of Gan Eden

Hashem creates a garden on the Eastern side of Eden. In the garden are many trees including the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. There is a river that waters the garden which afterwords separates to four smaller rivers; Pishon, Gichon, Chidekel and Pras. Hashem appoints Adam as the caretaker and guardian of the garden and permits him to eat from all the trees aside from the Tree of Knowledge.

Creation of Chava

Hashem declares that Adam needs a helper. After Adam names all the animals and can not find a suitable helper, Hashem places him in a deep sleep. He then takes one of his ribs and forms a woman out of it. Adam names her a 'wife'. The two walk undressed with no embarrassment.

Shabbos

Hashem finishes creation right before Shabbos and then takes a rest and blesses it making it holy.

Sin of Adam

Seduction of Snake

The snake seduces Chava into eating from the Tree of Knowledge claiming it will give her G-dly powers. After touching the tree and remaining unharmed Chava eats from it and then feeds some to her husband. Upon eating the forbidden fruit they gain knowledge and realize they are undressed. Out of embarrassment they create garments and then hide from Hashem among the trees of the garden. Hashem calls out to Adam who then admits he was hiding since he was undressed. Hashem asks Adam if he ate from the Tree of Knowledge. Adam confesses that he did but blames it on Chava who in-turn blames it on the snake.

Punishments

Hashem punishes the snake with ten curses[16] including having crawl on his stomach, eat dust and forever be hated by humans. Additionally the hands and legs he previously had were cut off from him.[16] Chava is punished with ten curses[16] including women having to suffer the pain of child raising, pain of pregnancy, pain of birth and always require attention from her husband. Adam is punished with ten curses[16] including having the ground cursed because of him, from now on it will sprout thorns in place of crops and men will eat bread only through the sweat of their brow. The ground is punished with nine curses since it had the ability to protest and prevent Adom from eating for the tree of death.[16] It was also paid back at this time for producing taste only in its fruits and not in the Tree itself, as Hashem had commanded.[14]

Naming of Chava

Adam names his wife Chava since she is the mother of all those alive (Chi).

Skin Garments

Hashem dresses Adam and Chava in skin garments.

Expulsion

Adam is expelled from the garden to prevent him from eating from the Tree of Life. Hashem places damaging angles and the blade of the rotating sward at the gate of the garden to prevent Adam from reentering it.

Kayin & Hevel

Birth

Kayin and Hevel are born to Adam and Chava. Hevel becomes a shepherd while Hayin works the land.

Sacrifices

Kayin and Hevel both offer sacrifices to Hashem. Hevel's sacrifice is accepted while Hayin's is rejected. Upon seeing this, Kayin's face drops. Hashem teaches Kayin about the Evil Urge and how it can be overcome.

Murder

Kayin murders Hevel. Hashem punishes the ground for swalowing Hevel's blood. Kayin is punished to from now on wander the earth. Kayin pleads for mercy and Hashem places a letter mark on his forehead to save him from being attacked by wild beasts for seven generations.

Generations of Kayin

  1. Kayin gives births Chanoch and builds a city for him naming it after his son.
  2. Chanoch births Eirad.
  3. Eirad births Machviel
  4. Machviel births Mesushelach
  5. Mesushelach births Lemech
  6. Lemech births Yuval and Yoval from his wife Ada and Tuval Kayin and Nama from his wife Tzila.

Death of Kayin

Lemech accidentally kills his ancestor Kayin and he is hunting blindly guided by his son Tuval Kayin. He then kills Tuval Kayin. Lemech's two wives separate from him and he wounder why he received and immediately punishment while Kayin's was delayed for seven generations.

Adam's Descendants

There are ten generations form Adam until Noach

  1. Adam lives for 930 years
  2. Shes lives for 912 years
  3. Enosh lives for 905 years
  4. Kanun lives for 910 years
  5. Mehalalel lives for 895 years
  6. Yered lives for 962 years
  7. Chanoch lives for 365 years and is then taken by Hashem
  8. Mesushelach lives for 969 years
  9. Lemech lives for 777 years
  10. Noach has three sons Shem, Cham and Yafes

Perversion

After the world is perverted by the fallen angles, Hashem declares that he will give mankind an opportunity of 120 years to repent. These giants attempt to rebel against Hashem with their strength and they are called 'Nifilim'.

Decree of the Flood

Hashem decides to destroy the now corrupted world, giving a 120 year extension to the decree. This decree took place before the birth of Yefes.[17] Noach finds favor in Hashem's eyes.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rashi Berashis 1:1
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rashi Berashis 1:2
  3. ^ Likutay Halachos, Hilchos Geniva 5
  4. ^ ikutay Halachos, Hilchos Tefillas Arvis 4:7
  5. ^ Chumash Shemos 12:2
  6. ^ a b c Rashi Berashis 1:4
  7. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 1:5
  8. ^ a b c d Rashi Berashis 1:14
  9. ^ a b c d e f Rashi Berashis 1:6
  10. ^ a b c d Rashi Berashis 1:7
  11. ^ Rashi Berashis 1:8
  12. ^ a b Rashi Berashis 1:9
  13. ^ Rashi Berashis 1:10
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Rashi Berashis 1:11
  15. ^ Rashi Berashis 1:12
  16. ^ a b c d e Tikunay Zohar Tikkun 64
  17. ^ Rashi Berashis 18:3
 
PrivacyDisclaimer Terms of Use
Share |
Share |
 
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox