MY DAILY LIFE TORAH COACH:
Parshat Beresheit n.1

Beresheit (“In the Beginning”), the first parashah in the annual Torah reading cycle, is about the story of the creation of the world by the hands of G-d. The first people, Adam and Eve, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are banished from the Garden of Eden. Their elder son, Cain, kills their younger son, Abel, and Cain is destined to a life of wandering.

Our world today can be a mixture of chaos and void, especially when we consider the current global climate. We are struggling to make meaning while the world is fraught with upheaval: wars waging around the globe, and societal divides. With Parashat Bereshit, however, we are reminded that chaos and darkness — even feelings of emptiness — are often the precursor to transformational change. While in our Torah portion, G-d calls forward the light, in our daily life, we need to be our own active source of transformation and renewal. When feeling uncertain, overwhelmed or hopeless, it is helpful to remember that throughout history, times of darkness have often paved the way for profound breakthroughs. Now we have the chance to reorganize and restrengthen, bringing clarity and purpose out of chaos.

Bereshit is not merely a description of how our universe came into existence; it is an invitation for all of us to become co-creators in shaping our reality. This responsibility feels particularly urgent in our current times when community dialogue might aid in building bridges, supporting humanitarian efforts, or advocating for peace and tolerance.