The first section of the Tora, Bereshit, describes the creation of the world and humanity. It starts with the story of how HaShem created the universe in six days and then rested on the seventh day.
At the beginning, HaShem created the universe, including a special planet: Earth. On the first day, HaShem made sunlight shine on the Earth, creating what we now know as “day” and “night.”
On the second day, God separated the waters above (the clouds) from the waters below (the oceans), creating an atmosphere that allows the water cycle (evaporation and precipitation).
On the third day, HaShem made the dry land appear from beneath the oceans, forming the surface of our planet. On this land, which now had sunlight and rain, God created all kinds of plants and trees.
On the fourth day, HaShem placed the sun, moon, and stars in their orbits to light the Earth and mark the seasons, days, months, and years.
On the fifth day, HaShem filled the waters with the first animals, like fish and birds.
On the sixth day, HaShem created mammals, and later that day, He created humans. The first human, Adam, was given a special ability (neshamá) to understand and choose to follow or disobey God’s commands. The first command given to humans was to rule over all creation. HaShem blessed humans, instructing them to multiply and fill the Earth.
On the seventh day, HaShem completed His creation and sanctified this day, declaring it as Shabbat.
The Tora then tells the story of the first humans. Adam was created from the dust of the earth, and HaShem breathed the breath of life into his nostrils. God created a beautiful garden in the east of Eden for Adam to live in, instructing him to work and care for it. In the garden, HaShem planted two special trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God allowed Adam to eat from any tree in the garden except the Tree of Knowledge, warning him that eating from it would lead to death.
God brought animals to Adam to name them, but none were suitable as a companion. Seeing that Adam was lonely, HaShem put him into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and created a woman, Eve. Adam recognized that Eve was “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” and they lived in the garden without shame about being unclothed.
The serpent, the cleverest of all animals, tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. She then gave some to Adam. After eating the fruit, they realized their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves. HaShem confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience. As a result, HaShem cursed the serpent, increased Eve’s childbirth pain, and decreed that Adam would have to work hard for the earth to produce food. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever.
After their expulsion, Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Both brought offerings to HaShem: Abel offered the best of his flock, while Cain offered some of his leftover crops. HaShem accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, which made Cain jealous of his brother. Cain killed Abel and was punished by HaShem to become a wanderer on Earth. Despite this, God placed a mark on Cain to protect him from being killed by others.
The Parasha concludes with a genealogy tracing ten generations from Adam, highlighting Enoch, who “walked with HaShem,” and ends with Noah, who “found favor in the eyes of God” amidst a corrupt generation.
FOR KIDS: 7 Questions for Bereshit (adapted from Chabad.org)
- What did HaShem create on the third day of creation?
- Light and darkness
- Dry land and vegetation
- Stars and the sun
- From which fruit did God tell Adam not to eat?
- The fruit of the Tree of Life
- The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge
- The fruit of the Magical Tree
- Why was the first woman called Eve (Chavá)?
- Because of the phrase “Am Israel Chai”
- Because she was in “a constant state of joy” (hava nagila)
- Because she was “the mother of all life” (Chai)
- What were Cain and Abel’s occupations?
- Both were hunter-gatherers
- Abel studied Tora, but Cain leaned towards hunting
- Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd
- Who said the phrase: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
- Adam, who expressed gratitude to HaShem for making him an only child
- Abel, who was ashamed of how Cain acted out of jealousy
- Cain, who murdered his brother and didn’t want to admit it
- What was the name of the third son born to Adam and Eve?
- Shet (Seth) (“because HaShem has given me another child”)
- Lemech (“what is the purpose of life on Earth?”)
- There was no third son, only Cain and Abel
