This is the first portion of the Torah read in the annual cycle. It is also probably one of the most widely studied of all the sections of the Torah. This section deals specifically with the story of creation which probably explains the great deal of attention that is paid to this specific portion. So much focus is placed on the act of creation itself, however, that we do not take the time to delve deeper into the hidden meanings contained in the text. Genesis is not just a story of the past but is also a glimpse at man’s potential to affect the world around him for the better. This potential originates from the very character of G-d’s method of creation, Mercy.

בְּרֵאשִׁית, בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים, אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ

Already we encounter a problem. We find that when Genesis begins a specific name is used when referring to G-d, Elohim. This particular name is used to describe G-d's Attribute of Strict Justice. This seems a bit strange. Granted, G-d is often referred to as a Judge, but is judgment the attribute of G-d we would expect to find in this situation? Commentary from the Gur Aryeh by Judah Loew ben Bezalel, a Talmudic and Tanach scholar of the 16th century seems to concur:

[Since the Torah speaks here of creation as a whole, we would not expect the Name, Elohim, which relates to a particular aspect of His interaction with Creation. Rather, we would expect G-d's essence of pure goodness which He channels to all of Creation.

This seems to make more sense as for the next several verses the theme seems to be that of goodness, G-d creates this and it's good, G-d creates that and it's good. Good, good, good. Here, we can turn to Rashi, an 11th century Torah scholar and his understandings on this verse:

It does not say, "HaShem's (meaning the ineffable name of G-d, the YHVH) creating," because at first it (G-d) rose in thought to create it (Creation) with the Attribute of Strict Judgment. But He saw that the world could not last, He gave precedence to the Attribute of Mercy and joined it to the Attribute of Strict Judgment.

When the story of creation is recounted in chapter 2 of Genesis we find that now the Attribute of Mercy (HaShem) is represented BEFORE the Attribute of Strict Judgment (Elohim).


As we stated in the beginning and have demonstrated above, Mercy was used in the act of creation itself, now we will see how this attribute will give rise to the ability within man to change himself, and the world, for the better.


“Soil from the earth”, when we look at it at first it doesn’t seem that odd, soil comes from the earth, right? Where else is it going to come from? But why not just say “formed man from the earth” or “formed man from the soil”, why go to the trouble of saying “soil from the earth”? It is taught that every statement in Torah is placed there and worded in a certain way for a purpose; there is a rhyme and reason to it. Therefore, there must be some significance in this particular soil, and that is where we find the mechanism of G-d’s Mercy in His creation of man. Rashi, taking from Bereishis Rabbah 14:8, says:

Alternatively [G-d] took [Man's] soil from the place about which it is said, "An Alter of earth shall you make for Me," as if to say, "Would that it be atonement for him and that he be able to last."

The subsequent commentary from Mizrachi goes on to say that the Alter spoken of was that found in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple, which once stood in Jerusalem. The soil that was the center of Jewish life, the place where atonement was sought, was that used in the creation of man.

The very material G-d uses in the story of Genesis to create man is symbolic of His Mercy; He gave us the ability to change, to repent, to return, to make Teshuvah. After a month of repentanced themed topics, you would think we would need another story of Teshuvah like we need a hole in the head. But even when all the Chagim, or holidays, are over, we restart the Torah and the first message is, "In G-d's Mercy, He gave us the ability to change for the better."

May we all have the strength to take Him up on this wonderful gift He implanted in us from the very beginning.

__________________