Shabbat Bereshit 5783
In English, the expression is “saving the best for last.” In Hebrew, it would be “aharon aharon haviv.” We humans like this idea, since we are the final element of the first creation story in Genesis 1. After God gives the universe order and structure, after the sun, moon, and stars have been set in the heavens, after creating vegetation and all manner of creatures, God creates the Adam, a creature in God’s own image.
We may feel that indeed the best was saved for last. But a careful reading of Parashat Adam, the narrative of our creation, is missing the most common refrain of the story. We appear at the end of Day Six. Five times previously, the Torah says: “Vayar Elohim ki tov”–God saw that it was good. At the end of Day Six, God will deem all of creation to be “very good.” But the human being doesn’t get the desired Divine check mark. What’s up with that? On Shabbat morning, I’ll share an even closer reading of the Creation story and offer an explanation as to why Adam isn’t evaluated as “tov” in the text. What grade, ultimately, does Genesis 1 give humanity? Stay tuned for more on Shabbat morning.
For some music inspired by Parshat Bereshit, see the links below. By the way, Moshav Band has two more Solomons–brothers of Noah, the lead singer of Soulfarm, who with Sari rocked our house last Saturday night!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Wise
Candle lighting: 5:47 PM
Torah Reading: Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10
