Dear Friend,
It is our favorite time, the first Shabbos after Simchas Torah when we begin the Torah reading cycle from the beginning.
The story of creation is fascinating and is filled with a wealth of knowledge and insight that parallels and complements many scientific discoveries.
What is most exciting however is learning about creation and imagining the freshness of the world at that time, how everything was just right, filled with opportunity and set up for success. All that was needed was just to live, care for and enjoy the world as per its user manual – the Torah, written by the manufacturer – G-d.
Like a projected image that is dependent on the constant projection of the image, Chassidic philosophy explains that G-d’s energy is in a constant state of creation, and all of existence is dependent on G-d’s renewed flow of energy at every moment to keep it in existence.
This means that the world is in a constant state of being created. It is always new and is always filled with opportunity just like it was in the actual first moments that we read about in this week's Torah portion.
Why are we so excited about that? Because it means that everything is always new and waiting for us to be our best at it. It means that we are always able to achieve and accomplish, we can always be better, we can change, we should never look back, because we were literally just created by G-d’s new energy. We must always look forward and work hard to live by the world's user manual – the Torah, written by the world's manufacturer – G-d.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Mendel & Elke Zaltzman
Shabbos Times
Friday, October 21
Candle Lighting: 5:49pm Evening service: 5:50pm
Saturday, October 22 Morning service: 10:00am
Kiddush Brunch: 12:00pm Evening service: 5:50pm
Shabbos ends: 6:48pm
Kiddush Sponsored by Simon and Julia Gelman
in honor of their son Ariel's Bar Mitzvah
Mazal Tov!!
An engaging class for women, using the Torah’s timeless wisdom to gain practical tips and guidance on relationships, raising children and daily stress. Light refreshments and wines served.
No charge, sponsorship opportunities available.
Yankel of Chelm was always very busy and was always tired. He always told his friends that when he retires, he will finally have time to rest. When the time of retirement came, he was very excited.
A few days later, his friend sees him walking around town yawning loudly. When asked why he is still so tired, Yankel responds: "When you are not working, you don't have opportunities to take a break!"
WEEKLY eTORAH
This week’s parshah is Bereishit, and the Torah reading contains the story of creation, beginning with the well-known line commonly rendered, “In the beginning, G‑d created heaven and earth.” But the Chassidic Masters have interpreted it to also mean: “G‑d created beginnings.” Not only did He create a new world, but He created the idea of new beginnings and new opportunities for all time.
Imagine if there was never a time or opportunity to start over again? Our lives would be significantly poorer for it.
You may be surprised to learn that, according to the Midrash and Kabbalistic tradition, ours was not the first world G‑d created. He created other worlds too, but they did not please Him and so they did not endure. Only when it came to our world does it say, “And G‑d saw that it was good.” This world found favor in His eyes. The others did not.
What is the Midrash telling us? That G‑d made mistakes? That He messed up and had to keep trying over and over again until he got it right? That doesn’t sound like the perfect Supreme Being we subscribe to.
Of course, G‑d doesn’t need to practice until He gets it right! By creating several worlds before ours, G‑d was deliberately teaching us an important lesson for life. That it’s OK to make a mistake. That we can start again. That there can be new beginnings.
Look at Adam and Eve. Their son Cain killed his own brother, Abel, wiping out a quarter of the world’s population. Can you imagine how they felt? They gave birth to a murderer! They could have been forgiven for deciding not to bring any more children into the fledgling world. Instead, they went on to have another child, Seth, who became the forefather of Noah, Abraham, and all of us.
What if they’d given up hope? Where would we be? Would we, in fact, be? Thank G‑d, they started over and rebuilt their family. Thank G‑d, they made the correct decision—one that was based on the possibility of starting over, and the hope that they could do things better next time.
If G‑d could start over, then Adam and Eve could start over, and so can we.
This Shabbat, known as Shabbat Bereishit, is a time of new beginnings. It is the first Shabbat as we get back to the routine of the new year following the festive Yom Tov season. It is a bridge into the new Jewish calendar year, and is rich with opportunity and potential. It helps us infuse the new year with the inspiration of our High Holiday experiences.
Even if there may be areas of our lives which haven’t quite gone the way we would have liked them to, we can be assured that it is not too late to try again. Don’t be discouraged. Let’s grasp this wonderful opportunity for a fresh start and a new beginning.
