Bereishit, Bereshit, Bereishis, B’reshith, Beresheet, or Bereshees (בְּרֵאשִׁית — Hebrew for "in beginning,” the first word in the Parasha) is the first weekly Torah portion (Parasha or Sidra) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. The Parasha consists of Genesis 1:1–6:8. Jews read it on the first Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October. Jews also read the beginning part of the Parasha, Genesis 1:1–2:3, as the second Torah reading for Simchat Torah, after reading the last parts of the book of Deuteronomy, Parasha V’Zot HaBerachah, Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12.

The English name Genesis comes from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Genesis means “origins.” Therefore, the Greek name for the first book of the Bible means “The Book of Origins.” Genesis describes the origins of everything. It begins with the origins of the universe, focuses on the origins of man and then explores the origins of the nation of Israel.

In the Sidra, God creates the world, and Adam and Eve. They commit the first sin, however, and God expels them from the Garden of Eden. One of their sons, Cain, becomes the first murderer by killing his brother Abel out of jealousy. Adam and Eve also have other children, whose descendants populate the Earth, but each generation becomes more and more degenerate until God, despairing, decides to destroy humanity. Only one man, Noah, finds favor in the eyes of God.

Note: On the Shabbat the Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. Here are this week`s aliyot:

1st Aliya: The first aliyah begins the entire Torah.
Here is creation from nothing. The creation of the universe is detailed day by day concluding with the creation of Shabbat (The first Shabbat).

2nd and 3rd Aliya: The creation of Adam and Chava and the story of Gan Eden is detailed.

4th Aliya: Adam and Chava are expelled from Gan Eden and the story of Kayin and Hevel is related.

5th, 6th, and 7th Aliyot: Chronologically, the time covered in Parshas Bereshit is from year 1 (the creation of humankind) through the birth of Noach’s three sons in 1556. The final three Aliyot list the 10 generations from Adam through Noach that lived during that time, as well as the degeneration of man’s relationship with HaShem. It is important to note that Noach’s generation was the first generation not to have personally known Adam.