Bereishis – This Sidrah has 23 Parshios By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Day and Night Day One Rashi explains, citing Rabbi Yitzchok, that the Torah began with the account of Creation rather than the first of the 613 Mitzvos in order to do the Jewish nation a favor.  It was so that if and when we are accused of taking the land, we can respond that Hashem created the world and He gave it to us.  We see here that Hashem is looking out for us – even far ahead of time.  We also see His tremendous love for us. In our task of emulating G-d, we too should always look out for other people as much as possible – just like Hashem does here.  We also see Hashem’s tremendous love for us, something we should emulate with our children, students, and peers. The Skies and Waters Day Two The Midrash Rabbah (1:8) tells us that the words “And it was good” are not found regarding the second day because the waters that caused Moshe Rabbeinu to err (and, thus, not make a Kiddush Hashem) were created on that day.  If Hashem altered the very wording of Maaseh Bereishis itself on account of this, we see how saddened we should be at the fact that Moshe Rabbeinu erred here.  Our appreciation for Chillul Hashem and Kiddush Hashem should be heightened if we focus on this idea. Earth and Seas Day Three Rashi cites the Midrash that the seas are, in fact, all one and are connected.  Why then does the Torah label the seas in plural form?  The Midrash answers that fish that comes from Acco tastes quite different than fish that came from Asphamia.  We see from here the importance of noticing and noting distinctions and dissimilarities – what makes things and people unique.  The lesson here is that details count.  We should train ourselves to notice things they do make a difference. Stars in the Sky Day Four Hashem said the words “Y’hi m’oros birkiya.”  – let there be stars (m’oros) in the heavens but the word m’oros is spelled without a vov – it is missing.  The reason is that historically, as noted in Meseches Sofrim 17:5, Wednesdays were noted to be especially prone to an illness called askarah that affected young children.  On account of this sensitivity the Torah changed the spelling of what was created on the fourth day.  We too should be especially sensitive to illnesses and the safety of young children. Flying Creatures Day Five The pasuk says that Hashem blessed the flying creatures.  Why was this needed?  Rashi explains that because they are hunted and eaten and thus their population is lessened – they required a special bracha.  We see from here that conservationism is a Torah value.  We too should try to ensure that various populations of animals still continue to exist. Animals and Man Day Six Hashem says, “Let us make man in Our Image.”  The plural form is noted by the Midrash.  Moshe Rabbeinu, when writing the Torah asked Hashem not to put such a stumbling block before people as they might think that there was more than one Creator, Heaven forbid.  Hashem answered that he wished to teach a moral lesson to others – that a person […]

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