* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Don’t miss is: This week we go back to the beginning of the Torah and read the first verse: “ Bereishit bara Elokim”—"When God began creating heaven and earth…”
Undoubtedly, you’ve known this verse by heart since kindergarten, but this morning we are starting again,and you have a new opportunity to add a few minutes of meaning and holiness to your daily life.
Immediately after Simchat Torah, we relaunch the foundational learning cycle of Judaism: the study of the weekly Torah portion and begin reading Sefer Bereishit—the first of the five books of the Torah and its first parasha, Parashat Bereishit.
The weekly parasha is read in the synagogue on Shabbat morning, but it customary for Jews of all ages— and in all circumstances—to prepare for the parashaby studying it throughout the preceding week.
The parasha is divided into seven sections, one for each day of the week. It is our tradition to study each section along with the commentary of Rashi, the most famous biblical commentator. By following this routine, we are able to complete the study of the entire parasha over the course of the week and the entire Torah over the course of a year.
You can study the parasha on your own or with your spouse, parents, children, or grandparents, or you can choose a study partner from outside your immediate circle. It would be helpful to purchase a Chumash with Rashi’s commentary or find explanations online. I assure you that if you will just make the effort, you will soon discover how the Torah continues to speak to us—and about us—even today.
This week, we start again from “Bereishit.” Will you join us?
