Parshat Beresheit: The Spirit of Words and Letters

Parshat Beresheit ~ Genesis 1:1-6:8

 

Baruch She'emar V'ha'ya ha'olam — Blessed is the One who spoke, and the world came into being.

 

We chant these words each morning, but do we fully understand their meaning in our sleepy, pre-coffee selves?

 

What power there is in the ability to create with words! Every day we acknowledge that our Creator has this power, but do we realize we possess a similar gift? Created b'Tzelem Elokim (in the image of God), we strive to emulate divine attributes—mercy, justice, forgiveness, and kindness. Just as God rested after creation, we too observe Shabbat. And just as God created the world with words, we also create through speech, though on a smaller scale. Our words can nurture and build or wound and destroy.

 

There are many stories about the creation of the world. One of my favorites comes from the Zohar, a foundational Kabbalistic text. It explores not only the power of words but also the very building blocks of those words—letters.

 

In Sefer Yetzirah (The Book of Creation), it says, “With 22 letters, God embossed, chiseled, weighed, changed, refined, and shaped all beings that exist or will come to exist.” This passage highlights the active, creative potential of each letter. Not only do words have power, but individual letters also carry immense creative energy. They are like master artisans, shaping the essence of our reality. When we speak, we too are artisans, crafting thoughts and utterances that shape the world around us.

 

A midrash in Bereshit Rabbah teaches that the Torah existed 2,000 years before the world, and during that time, God played with the letters. Let’s imagine the moment when God was ready to create the world. According to the Zohar, each letter appeared before God and made a case for why the world should be created with it. God considered each letter carefully, offering reasons for rejecting them, until reaching the one destined to be chosen.

 

The Hebrew alphabet contains 20 letters. The letters pled their case in reverse order, with Taf going first. When almost all the letters had been rejected, Bet appeared and said, “Create the world with me because I am the first letter of beracha (blessing).” God agreed, saying, “Indeed, by you, I will create the world.”

 

Interestingly, Aleph remained silent. After Bet was chosen, God asked Aleph why it had not appeared. Aleph responded that there was no point—it was clear from Bet’s expression that it had been chosen. God then reassured Aleph, promising it would be first of all letters, symbolizing unity (achdut). “With you,” God said, “all counting begins, and every deed in the world starts.” Thus, Bet and Aleph together begin the first 4 words of creation, Bereshit Bara Elohim Et.

 

Bereshit represents God’s blessing in creation, while Bara represents our role in continuing that creation. Elohim reflects God’s attributes of justice and might, while Et—the simple preposition—represents us, humans, and the endless possibilities that follow.

 

This week’s parasha reminds us of the power of words, both divine and human. From the beginning, God created with words. Later, destruction also came through words. We see how blessings can be bestowed or harm caused through speech, vows, and promises. Just as the world was created through powerful, active letters, so too are our lives shaped by the words we choose.

 

As we begin this new year of 5785, may we learn to choose our words carefully, crafting them with the same intention and care that went into the creation of the world. May our words build a world of peace and understanding.

 

 

 

I'm writing again... random thoughts... and some Zohar

Shalom Y'all -

I wonder if I should say the beracha "m'chayei ha'meitim" which you are supposed to say when you see someone you haven't seen in so long it's as if they've been dead and it's as if they are ressurrected, you are seeing them come back to life!

I haven’t written in this blog for over a year and I realize that I missed it.  The noun itinerant means “a person who travels from place to place.” Though I am no longer in Israel I still fit that definition to a tee.  Home in Maryland, school in Philly, pulpit in Ottawa, family in New England, friends all over (not that I ever see them), heart in Israel… I think that qualifies.

My thoughts are itinerant as well – they travel (bounce really )from place to place – are rarely confined to the small interior space of my brain –  head out to the stratosphere – pop back for a quick check in – go bug someone else for a while – come to me with an update – then begin the pattern all over again. Keeps me busy, especially when I have insomnia, which is all too often. So I thought I’d start writing again. People will read or not. And that’s okay.  I just figured I’d write – who knows what wisdom might find its way from my fingers to the page and surprise all of us?

Things of importance that happened today:

1) Today I learned how to open a wine bottle for the first time.  I am nearly 50 years old and this is, I am sort of but not really embarrassed to say, the first time I have ever successfully opened a bottle of wine. Didn’t split the cork, no little pieces floating around or anything. The wine is decent but not great – a kosher Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc Clarksburg 2008 – a good year I’m sure:) It goes well with my French bread pizza, vanilla scented candle, and hole in my living room ceiling that has water dripping down through the tiles that fell off due to the weight of the snow on the roof of the old house that houses my dismal apartment in Philly. I needed fortification to finish up some of last semester’s work. So far so good.

2) Today I was reminded that even though I am adamant that I am not a very spiritual or mystical person (in fact I don’t even know the definition of a “spiritual” person) I totally dig the Zohar. Am taking a course called the Mystical traditions of Sabbath with a fantastic Rabbi, teacher, and friend Mira Regev and it Rocks!               Spent some time today pondering the real differences between Avodah (commonly thought of as regular, everyday work) and Melachah (creative work that Jews are not allowed to do on Shabbat, the kind of work that G-d, the Awesome One, did to create the world). Are they really different? What are the differences? Definitionally we are led to believe they are very different but if you look closely at the text, you (or at least I) begin to question…
      And then, of course, I began reading the Zohar and read something about G-d’s work. And what is G-d’s work? Coupling with the Shechina (on Shabbos of course when all good Jewish men and woman enjoy double mitzvah night and thereby ensure the production of future generations of righteous children.) (source: Zohar 2:89b).  Being Jewish is a very cool thing to be, one must admit. Even the learning is fun, and practical too.

3) I also was reminded today, well this week really, how lovely it is to see one’s chevre when one hasn’t seen them for a while. Good friends are never to be taken for granted. Ever.

4) And my Philly flatmate D. is back from her sojourn in the Holy Land so I am no longer alone. Yea! This is our 3rd year sharing  a flat. A good flatmate is more precious than diamonds (or is it rubies – that’s Eshet Chayil anyways but you get the point). Welcome home D!

Back to the school work. A Rabbit’s work is never done, even an Itinerant one’s.

The task tonight – writing a lesson plan on how to teach the Hebrew language poem Tefillin by Yona Wallach. Have you read it yet? If not, give it a read and tell me what you think. It is a bit controversial (ok, more than a bit). But if you look below the surface, I promise you, there is much there.

Kol tuv, be well.. more to come…

rabba arlene