Bereisheet
Why The World Was Created
Adapted from the Midrash Rabbah
"B'Reisheet bara Elohim et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz: In a
beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
(Bereisheet/ Genesis 1:1)
Where was God, before the heavens were created? What was God's plan? Why was the world created and how is it
sustained? Our medieval rabbis,
speaking in the midrash, asked all of these questions. And they found answers to all them of
in Jewish scripture itself.
The first thing God created was the Throne of Glory - and thus God
had a place to be. As it is
written, "Your throne stands firm of old" (Tehillim/Psalms 93:2).
Alternatively, the first thing God created was the Torah - and
thus God had a plan to follow. As
it is written, "The LORD founded the earth by wisdom" (Mishlei/Proverbs
3:19).
The world was created so that we could give to others, and it is
sustained when we do so. As it is
written, "The first fruits of your new grain" shall be brought to
Jerusalem each year as a tithe (Devarim/Deuteronomy 18:4). The word used for "first" is
reisheet -- the same word used for the "beginning" of the world.
Each time we give to those who cannot sustain themselves, the
rabbis taught, we do our part in creating and sustaining the world.
Return to Reb Laura's
"Taste of Torah" list.
Return
to "Teachings from Our Rabbis and Friends" list.
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