Rabbi Bergadine considers the literal meaning of the first 2 words – lech lecha- go forth for yourself. She quote Rashi, who interpreted the phrase as ‘going forth for your own benefit’. She asks if we have made the effort to benefit all of ourselves – the “body work” as well as the “soul work”.
I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be tamim. Please follow the link below to read Rabbi Barenblat’s poem what it means to be “pure”
Rabbi Sacks addresses the ambiguity of Terah and Abraham. Terah worshipped idols, but took the first steps towards a new homeland and life. Abraham broke with the pattern of idolatry, risking disrespect for his father, and completed Torah’s journey.
Rabbi Zamek drashes on the selection of species to be included in the Ark, commenting that if most of us had a choice, we would have excluded certain life forms, such as leeches or cockroaches. As he states, this perspective reflects only our own personal interests, without considering the well-being of the entire world that was created.
Rabbi Barenblat composes a beautiful poem on the theme of understanding.
Rabbi Sacks compares the morality in the Flood narrative to Games theory. He cites The Prisoner’s Dilemma, a model invented in 1950, demonstrating that cooperation produces a better outcome for both parties. He carries this discussion forward to ultimately demonstrate that the first moral principle in the Torah is the first moral principle to be scientifically demonstrated.
Rabbi Weiss states that our world can itself be a mixture of chaos and void, considering global warming, warfare around the world, societal divides. Parashat Bereishit teaches us that chaos and darkness are frequently the precursor to transformational change, rather than the conclusion of our story. In the Torah, God calls the light out; in our daily lives we need to be our own source of transformation.
Rabbi Sacks questions whether we can understand our history without the “prehistory” – the narratives of Abraham and Sarah and their offspring, the narrative of Adam and Eve, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel. He cites Rabbi Isaac who stated that the Torah should have begun with Exodus 12:2 – the first of the months, when the first commandment was given to Israel.
Rabbi Creditor writes of the Ushpizin, mystical spirit guests who are invited in during Sukkot. Traditionally, they remind us of the brokenness of the world, and how to repair it. Yet there is a contrast between the celebration of plenty during Sukkot and the lives of many who are bereft of food and shelter. Rabbi Creditor writes of his experience in visiting Ghana and how it influenced his understanding of Sukkot.
Fragile rejoicing – songs for Sukkot