Bereishis

Parsha in a Nutshell: There are four basic topics covered: Creation, the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel and HaShem's conclusion that He is dissatisfied with what he created which bridges us to next week's parasha.

Creation

• Pasuk 1/1-4: I found Rashi's first commentary to the Torah to be relevant in today's society. The language and imagery of creation is beautiful, and with Rashi's commentary, resolving creation and our ever increasing understanding of science is elegant. If you will consider the idea that science is a tool to help us reveal the world that HaShem created for us to occupy, then the beginning of the Torah should excite you, not burden you with doubt. And Rashi's commentary is amazingly precinct. Free your mind, visualize the words and read the first four sentences of the Torah again with Rashi's commentary and I think you'll have a far more interesting experience.

• Pasuk 1/5: I had never noticed the inconsistency of not using "Rishon" (first) to end the first day and found the explanation of using "Echad" (One) reassuring.

• Pasuk 1/7: Rashi explains that the work of gathering together the waters to reveal the land on Day Three is the completion of creating water on Day Two. Hence, the double "ki tov" later in the parsha. But left unexplained is why...why did HaShem, who can do anything, not choose to complete this in the entirety of a single day?

• Pasuk 1/26: "They shall rule over the fish of the sea"...Rashi explains that the word "v'yirdo" means both "ruling" and "declining". Further, inasmuch as we are worthy, man will rule over the beasts. And if we are not, we will become inferior to them. I think you can read this comment with a view towards our current times. The beasts of society surround us, particularly social and economic pressures. And our ability to be good and worthy (not the coolest or smartest), is possibly the best indicator of our ability to rule over these challenges.
  

• Pasuk 1/28: "and subdue it"...Why did Rashi conclude that "it" was a woman and that man was to rule over her? The entire clause is "fill the land and subdue it." The context of the chapter, sentence and clause make Rashi's alternate explanation more sanguine...that man is to be fruitful and multiply (from earlier in the sentence) and rule the earth. In addition, Rashi usually uses the phrase, "Alternatively" when he has a second explanation. In this case he uses the word "Furthermore". Why the stylistic change? Does it tell us something about the first explanation?
  

• Pasuk 1/29-30: I'm surprised more Jews are not vegetarians. If we are a light unto nations, and ultimately yearn for mashiach, why wouldn't we emulate what HaShem outlined as a best practice? I understand, that HaShem later permitted the consumption of meat (and I wholeheartedly participate in that practice), but in a world of ever increasing stringency, why has this one not been instituted or encouraged?

Expulsion from the Garden of Eden

• Pasuk 3/2-3: In verse 2, the fruit of any tree from the garden can be eaten. In verse three, the fruit of tree in the center of the garden cannot be eaten. I thought this called for some explanation.

• Pasuk 3/19: Rashi explains that "by the sweat of your brow" refers to the work we now have to do to farm the land, make bread and sustain ourselves, but are you surprised that there is no minhag to eat a salty bread in remembrance of this pasuk?
  

Cain and Abel

• My primary takeaway from Cain and Abel is that presumptive knowledge, like that gained by eating the fruit of the Tree, is not our aim. That we are to strive to live a good and worthy life, one filled with humility and grace.

HaShem's Conclusion

• Pasuk 6/7: I'm surprised Rashi didn't refer back to pasuk 3/19 when attempting to explain the use of the phrase "dissolve" for the destruction of man.

Shabbat Shalom.

A-