Bereshit, Bereishit, Bereshis, Bereishis, B’reshith, Beresh’t, Beresheet, or Bereishees (בְּרֵאשִׁית — Hebrew for “in a beginning,” the first word in the parashah) is the first weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bereshit_(parashah)
In the parashah, God creates the heavens, the world, Adam and Eve, and Sabbath. A serpent convinces Eve, who then invites Adam, to eat the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden to them. So God curses them and expels them from the Garden of Eden. One of their sons, Cain, becomes the first murderer, killing his brother Abel out of jealousy. Adam and Eve have other children, whose descendants populate the Earth. Each generation becomes more and more degenerate until God, despairing, decides to destroy humanity. Only one man, Noah, finds God’s favor.
Parashah Insights – from Being Noahide
Parshah Bereishit – A Failure to Distinguish
Parshah Bereishith is filled with beginnings; from the beginning of the world, to the beginning of mankind. However, one of the less well-known beginnings in this week’s Torah portion is the beginning of the Oral Torah, and the story of how our failure to pass it on correctly almost led to our end!
Parashah Insights – from around the Web
- Ten Questions On Evolution And Judaism (article)
Rationalist Judaism / Rabbi Natan Slifkin - Why God Created Man Last (video, 2:32)
Rabbi Chaim Richman - Man is higher than the angels (video, 8:04)
Rabbi Chaim Richman - Is Genesis compatible with Science (video, 11:38)
Rabbi Dr. Zvi Aviner - Comparing Science to Genesis (video, 44:27)
Rabbi Dr. Zvi Aviner - The Tree of Knowledge: The Gift of Choice (video, 15:44)
Rabbi Chaim Richman - The First Marriage: A Prototype (article)
Torah.org / Rebbetzin Leah Kohn - Adam and Eve Eat The Apple (article)
Aish.com / Rabbi Yehuda Appel - Haftarah Summary for Parshah Bereishit (article)
Torah.org / Rabbi Aron Tendler
Read the Parashah
Great sites to read and learn more about this Parashah:
- Read the Parashah
- Learn More
References
↑1 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bereshit_(parashah) |
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