Everything is new again. We begin a new year, 5782, and a shmita year (a year where agricultural land in the Land of Israel lies fallow) and we begin our cycle of Torah reading once more, with the story of the Creation.
Rashi (12th C. Germany) asked, “Why does the Torah begin with the account of the Creation? Rabbi Yitzhak said: The Torah which is the Law book of Israel should have started with the verse (Exodus 12:2) “This month shall be unto you the first of the months” which is the first commandment given to Israel.” Rashi gives three reasons. First, to show that God is the creator of all and therefore the rightful owner of all. In other words, that God’s dominion is not just on the Jewish People, but all humanity and all created things. Second, that the order of creation as described in Genesis is not chronological. Third, that God created the world first with the qualities of Divine mercy allied with Divine justice.
As we begin this new year, let us remember that the message of the Jewish people as expressed in Torah is a universal message for all people, as God is the God of all people. Second, that the Torah, like all holy texts, is open to interpretation, not a literal description of reality and third, that like God, we should temper our judgments of others with mercy before judging. May we all have a sweet and good new year, one filled with more hope, health, kindness, justice and peace. ~Rabbi Dean Kertesz
Vayikra, Genesis 1:1-6:8, Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, October 2, 2021
October 1, 2021 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Everything is new again. We begin a new year, 5782, and a shmita year (a year where agricultural land in the Land of Israel lies fallow) and we begin our cycle of Torah reading once more, with the story of the Creation.
Rashi (12th C. Germany) asked, “Why does the Torah begin with the account of the Creation? Rabbi Yitzhak said: The Torah which is the Law book of Israel should have started with the verse (Exodus 12:2) “This month shall be unto you the first of the months” which is the first commandment given to Israel.” Rashi gives three reasons. First, to show that God is the creator of all and therefore the rightful owner of all. In other words, that God’s dominion is not just on the Jewish People, but all humanity and all created things. Second, that the order of creation as described in Genesis is not chronological. Third, that God created the world first with the qualities of Divine mercy allied with Divine justice.
As we begin this new year, let us remember that the message of the Jewish people as expressed in Torah is a universal message for all people, as God is the God of all people. Second, that the Torah, like all holy texts, is open to interpretation, not a literal description of reality and third, that like God, we should temper our judgments of others with mercy before judging. May we all have a sweet and good new year, one filled with more hope, health, kindness, justice and peace. ~Rabbi Dean Kertesz