Below is a brief description of this week’s Torah portion:
Genesis 1:1
The Beginning: and it was GOOD
First Day: LIGHT
Second Day SKY (expanse between the waters to separate them)
Third Day LAND & PLANTS
Fourth Day SUN, MOON, STARS
Fifth Day FISH & BIRDS
Sixth Day ANIMALS & MAN
Seventh Day SHABBAT
Genesis 2:8
The Garden of Eden
Genesis 2:15
Man Placed in the Garden
Woman
Genesis 3:1
The Serpent’s Enticement
Genesis 3:13
The Sinners are punished
Man’s Expulsion from Eden
Genesis 4:1
Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:17
The Descendants of Cain
Genesis 5:1
The Genealogy of Mankind
Genesis 5:6
The Ten Generations from Adam to Noah
Genesis 6:1
Prelude to the Flood
We have finished the year’s cycle of reading the Torah. Now, we start again with Bereshit/Genesis. We see creation as that which HaShem spoke it into being. It tells how GOD created the universe, our earth. The Torah then proceeds to tell us of our beginnings, Adam and Eve. Genesis is known as a book of “begetting,” who gave birth (begat) to whom and so on and so on…. It is the history of the beginning/Adam, to the Nation of Israel. It is also a book of believing, where faith is shown by actions/works.
HaShem created the world with a plan and a purpose. Adam and his children were to have a relationship with GOD so close that they would meet in the cool of the day in the Garden (Gen 3:8). Instead, Adam and Eve hid from HaShem after disobeying GOD and breaking the one rule He set for them.
GOD made a plan to bring Eden back once more and place Adam and his descendents in the Garden. We will learn as we continue on in the Scriptures, GOD would tell us of a better Eden, a New Jerusalem (Isaiah 65:17-25).
The Book of Revelation tells us that in the new Eden (Jerusalem) the Tabernacle of GOD will be among men, and He shall dwell among His people where there shall be no more tears, no more death or mourning or crying, or pain (Revelation 21:1-8, II Peter 3:13). Thus, according to His promise, we should look for that day when a new heaven and a new earth will come from our Father and our GOD in which righteousness dwells.
May this New Year bring a renewed joy in reading His Word (Torah)! GOD is awesome and it will be exciting to see how He reveals His plans in the coming year.
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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