VOLUME 21, ISSUE 1 WEDNESDAY,
TORAH PORTION: B’REISHIS (GENESIS 1:1 – 6:8)
SHIMINI ATZERES – CANDLE LIGHTING: 6:22 P.M. (CHICAGO)
Shmini Atzeres / Simchas Torah Holiday Issue
This week’s CTN Shabbat Fax is sponsored by Doris and Ron Lazarus in honor of their children Matthew and Jennifer Seidner, and grandchildren Talia, Perla and Jonah. “May the New Year bless you with good health and continued strength. May you feel our love, devotion and pride on every step of your journey. We are filled with gratitude for all that you teach us, every moment of every day. Happy 6th Birthday Talia. We love you! Love, Bubbie and Poppa”
1. “IN THE BEGINNING G-D CREATED
This Shabbat, in synagogues around the world, we’re back to square one.
Starting to study the Torah all over again. From the beginning.
It’s always been a very Jewish approach to Torah.
… As soon as we finish – we start again!
It’s something we should appreciate. Be proud of.
And make sure we continue.
… The love for learning. The endless passion to know more.
And – most importantly – never to say: “I know that already.”
Instead? “Let’s take another look. Maybe I’ll see something different this time.”
It’s what kept Torah – and the Jewish People – alive for three thousand years.
2. STORY OF THE WEEK
1950. Tens of thousands of Yemenite Jews arrive in Israel. With different customs and way of life. And that’s to be expected.
But one thing is especially surprising.
… When they read a page of Hebrew writing – many of them don’t bother to make sure the page is right-side up.
They just take it and read it – whatever direction it is facing.
People checked into it. And then they understood.
Something pretty remarkable.
… The Jewish community in Yemen was very poor. They barely had the money even for necessities. Let alone luxuries.
Yet every one of their tiny, impoverished synagogues, had at least one copy of all the basic books of Torah and Talmud.
That was a priority. No matter what the cost. It was as important as food and water.
And of course they all studied and attended classes. They sat around the table. Around the one precious book. And they read.
All from the same volume. From every possible angle.
And, over the years, they did this so much, that it became natural.
… It’s pretty amazing. How they lacked almost everything.
Except very Jewish priorities.
3. “G-D SAID: “BEHOLD I HAVE GIVEN YOU…EVERY TREE THAT HAS SEED BEARING FRUIT. IT SHALL BE YOURS FOR FOOD”. (1:29)
G-d said: “Behold I have given you…every tree that has seed bearing fruit. It shall be yours for food”. (1:29)
Genesis is a portion that deals with some really big things.
Like the creation of the universe.
… Which means that life has a purpose.
And the creation of man in the Image of G-d.
… What can be more central than that to Jewish tradition?
And then there are the small details. Which also have great lessons.
They just sometimes get lost in the big picture.
… One example: The Torah describes G-d telling Adam what he can eat.
‘And every tree that has seed bearing fruit’.
… Which is a pretty strange way to say it. Why mention the seeds altogether?
Can you picture telling a guest: ‘Please help yourself to some of those fruit with seeds in them’?
… Jewish tradition says that there’s an important message here. About fruit. And about life.
Next time we eat a fruit, we should do more than just eat it.
We should take a good look at it. Notice the tiny little seeds.
Think about how this fruit came into being.
… And we should say, ‘Wow!’
Because there are two kinds of miracles.
Some that happen rarely.
And others that happen every day.
… The ones we call nature.
