Bereshith: How did we get here?

Bereshith: How did we get here?

 

Here we are, back at the beginning of the Torah.  This uncomfortable description of the origin of the world ( No, not the universe, not the big bang.  The flat  world of light and dark that we actually experience; not that blue cloud covered globe that roatates and revolves around a star contained within a galaxy etc. that we memorized)  

 The intention of the story is to make the reader recognize her significance, not his insignificance ( per the scientific story of huge expanses and almost endless eons).  Any creation stories is an  exercise in imagination and yields an image of the self.  these are the stories through which we create ourselves.

 

Cosmology and evolution are no longer threatening or dangerous.

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Creation through speech: the codes

 

 

The premises of the Parshanim includes the literal translation of the story.  This, in turn, leads to the idea that the creation was effected by speech: Vayomer Hashem.... Vayehee.   This, in turn, leads to an idea of the special power of the words used in the Creation and the close analysis of the letters and words. 

 

Let's try some: Cosider the first letter Beth.  A vertical border (start here), a line above ( shomaim), a line below ( aretz) and a dot floating in between.  And the dot isn't even there, it is only in the memeory of the reader and the listener. ( Don't tell me that the Ivrith writing doesn't look the Ashurith letters we now use; it is the Ashurith letters that are my tradition!)

 

The first word contains the  second, Bereshith contains Bara.  As if to say that the idea of creation is embedded in the idea of begining.  

 

IN Chapter 2, the human [N.B. humam come from humus (earth) like Adam comes from Adamah) is pleural.  The text then tuns to a mist ( Ad) that rises up (וְאֵד יַעֲלֶה מִן-הָאָרֶץ וְהִשְׁקָה אֶת-כָּל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה ) and returns to the (pleural of Ad [chaser]) Adam ( אָדָם ) .  Note that in Yiddish  Aidim  means son-in law. 

 

There are many more.