Sedra of the week: Bereshit
Rabbi Naftali Schiff looks ahead to this week's Torah portion
The elation of Simchat Torah propels us to throw ourselves into beginning a new cycle of the Torah, which provides us with an opportunity to delve deeper into familiar stories and themes.
As Jews, we embrace questions on the Torah and its commentaries; they draw our attention to subtleties and nuances that reveal new layers of understanding and lessons for life.
When we make Kiddush on Friday night, we read three-and-a-half verses from Bereshit describing the conclusion of the six days of creation and the first Shabbat. These verses conclude asher bara Elokim la’asot, God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because He abstained from all His work “which God created to make”. The word la’asot, “to make”, appears not to add anything to the verse.
The word also appears in Kiddush on Shabbat morning, la’asot et haShabbat, “to make the Shabbat”.
One idea behind this is what we get from Shabbat, and by extension any Jewish experience, will be directly affected by what we invest into it. Shabbat is provided as a weekly opportunity, but we still need to make it happen.
The Mishnah makes a remarkable statement. Just as Adam was created as an individual, so each person is obliged to proclaim “The whole world was created just for me!”
At face value, this seems like the most selfish, hedonistic, almost un-Jewish statement ever!
Some commentators explain that the word la’asot refers to us. Seeing the world as created “just for me”, means I am obligated to to continue and even complete the act of creation, as it won’t happen by itself.
Rabbi Naftali Schiff is chief executive of Jewish Futures Trust
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
