From The Rabbi’s Study… October 17, 18, 2025/25, 26 Tishrei 5786
The Torah never ends, it continues with the first Book of Bereshit/Genesis). This is the origin of the universe and the human race. The Creation of the world. The seven days and what G-d created.
First day: Light (Darkness was everywhere). The Jewish people start each day and holiday at night since Light was not yet created.
Second Day: Firmament is Raqia in Hebrew, meaning an expanse or atmosphere which is thin and stretched out. This thinness G-d created separates the waters above from the waters below (heaven and sky).
Third Day: Sea, land, and vegetation.
Fourth Day: Heavenly bodies.
Fifth Day: Fish and birds.
Sixth Day: Land animals and human beings (If someone asks, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” Your answer is the chicken of course because G-d created the land animal first!).
Seventh Day: Shabbat, Day of Rest. Why did G-d need to create REST? HE does not rest. G-d created the Sabbath for human beings as a gift to renew oneself each week.
Freedom of Choice: Sin and Punishment. The Adam and Eve story of the forbidden fruit and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The fruit was the pomegranate, which has 613 pips, symbolizes the Commandments. The analogy is of Adam and Eve as children that became adults and were enlightened to the knowledge. This is midrash, stories based on the Torah, which have multiple layers to discuss.
Next is Cain and Abel. G-d accepts Abel’s superior offering. Cain becomes jealous and kills his brother Abel. Cain learns punishment, which is to wander the earth. Many questions for drash…Why did G-d do this? The First murder. The rival of siblings and favoritism of one child over the other. Why is there no mention of other human beings? Cain wanders the earth and G-d put a mark on Cain to prevent him from being killed. Were there other human beings?
Judaic concepts and values:
People are G-d’s partners; The Torah is a “Book of Instructions,” a guidance for living a G-dly life. A concept is that of G-d as the Creator. ONE G-D! Thus, each human being strives to acquire personal qualities which are considered “Godly”.
Other concepts are sin, freedom of choice, in G-d’s image, and symbolic meaning of the Hebrew letters.
The first word in the Torah was Bereshit/In the beginning. Each letter has a special meaning.
Bitachon – faith, meaning to believe in G-d even during difficult times.
Resh-Ratzon – will, meaning one should not blame others as excuses. One has a will and or willpower to change their lives for the better.
Aleph-Ahavah – love. When one does not love, the person thinks of their own needs and never of another’s. To be able to love another person is a requisite of life fulfillment. Rabbi Akiva once stated, “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the most important verse in the entire Torah. All the rest is commentary.
Shin-shetikah – silence. There is in life a time to speak, and a time to be silent. One must learn the times to be silent. Then one becomes a better listener.
Yud-yirah – reverence. Judaism teaches that everything a person does in life should reflect reverence for G-d. One should use words of healing and take actions for sustaining; even when eating one blesses the food, drink, and meals, bringing a closeness with the divine.
Tav-Torah. Each of us has been given a guideline of life through the Torah. It teaches us how to live with each other and with G-d. It teaches us to do justly and love mercy, to live a life of goodness.
May this Shabbat bring a new beginning of learning more Torah. A life full of recognizing all that G-d has given to each of us and to live in the moment.
We should all pray for the healing of the Hostages and their families, for the return of those that died to be buried, and for their families to have closure and comfort.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
