Bereshiet

Bereshiet

1. Introduction

   • Why does the Torah start with Bereshiet instead of the first Mitzvah, Rosh HaShana?
   • Rashi- When the other nations claim that ״לסטום אתם״ (Bnai Yisroel are thieves), ספר בראשית explains that ה׳ can give & take the land as he pleases simply because he created it.
   • כלי יקר- Bereshiet shows Hashem's true involvement in the world (
     • השגה פרטית - Hashem runs the world by punishment and reward)
   • גור אריה- Hashem promised the land of Israel to Abraham but, his children would first have to endure enslavement.
     • ספר בראשית shows this promise is fulfilled through Issac and Jacob & not Ishmael & Asav
   • העמק דבר - "ספר ישרים״ (upright) is another name for Bereshiet.
     • The fore fathers and mothers were not considered צדיקים because of their love and expectance for ALL OF HUMANITY. Therefore, they were considered ישרים. The ושרים come before צדיקים in greatness The difference between the two are that ישרים care about everyone while צדיקים care about Hashem
     • are ישרים The our fore fathers and mothers. This is because they treated other people kindly.
   • Punishment
   • עץ הדאת טוב ורע

2. נעשה אדם & the purpose of mankind

   • Spiritual vs Physical
     • בצלמינו כדמותו - We are all made with aspects of both Hashem and Earth
       • Spirituality - the spiritual is to serve Hashem & to elevate the physical into spiritual
       • Physical - we are given physicality to serve spirituality (Hashem)
   • First Mitzvah given (R' Hirsh)
   • חזל uses Chava's example for the mitzvah of לא תוסיפו because it would lead to someone eventually sinning

3. איש ואישה

   • עזר כנגדו - opposites attract/against
     • ירא ה׳ כי טוב - Hashem saweverythig was good לא טוב - After Hashem decided it was not good כי לבדו - because man was alone HASHEM DOESNT MAKE MISTAKES
     • Rashi- It can go either way depending on what Hashem believes they deserve TOGETHER
     • Ramban- Your כנגדו is your עזר. By opposing yourself, your כנגדו pushes you to accomplish more. This leads the opinion that opposites do attract.
     • Are opposites supposed to help each other or be against each other?
   • דו פרצופין - two faced;
     • בצלמו בצלם- one being was created, both male and female EQUALLY
       • זכר ונקבה ברא אדם
   • Why did Hashem make Chava from Adam instead of creating them as 2 separate beings?
     • This is because they were equal- and they needed each other

4. נחש & חטא אדם וחבה

   • לא תוסיפו - don't add to the mitzvah (found in ספר דברים)
     • Rashi- Chava said that you would die if you TOUCHED the fruit on the tree. On the other hand, Hashem said that you cannot EAT from the tree.
       • חזל uses Chava's example for the mitzvah of לא תוסיפו because it would lead to someone eventually sinning
   • עץ הדאת טוב ורע
     • דעת = ידע
       • Eating from the tree will make them G-dly because of the knowledge
   • Punishment
     • Chava- struggles of raising children, pains of pregnancy, childbirth
     • Nachash- sly so it would be cursed more
       • No legs, eat dust, humans will dislike snakes

5. קין & הבל

   • Teshuva- Kayin gave the bad fruits (מן הגרוע) while Hevel gave מפרי אדמה the purest fruits
     • Hashem accepted Hevel's but not Kayins. Hashem says to Kayin אם תטוב שאת אם לא לפתח חטאת רבץ