Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Parasha Overview: Bereshit (Videos)

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...