Torah Tidbits
Can Evolution and the Torah's Account of Creation Coexist?
There are remarkable similarities between the account of the creation as given in B’reishit and the Theory of Evolution. First, light was created, then the firmament, followed by sea, land and vegetation. The creation of the heavenly bodies was followed by fish and birds, and then by land animals. Only finally, as the culmination of G-d’s work, was Man created. Indeed, the Torah’s description of the creation in a natural progression points to its divine origin because no mortal at the time of Moshe Rabeinu could have known that modern geologists also agree that plants and water-based animals were the first to exist..
Continue ReadingAliyah by Aliyah - B'reishit
This Aliya contains the first account of Creation.
[P>1:1 (5)] The first parsha contains the “summary” statement of Creation (or the first phase of Creation - see Lead Tidbit) and the account of Day One.
SDT: Baal HaTurim points out that the Gimatriya of B’REISHIT BARA is 1116, as is the numeric value of the phrase: B’ROSH HASHANA NIV’RA - on RH it (the world) was created. Furthermore, the letters of B’reishit rearrange to spell ALEF B’TISHREI
Sedra Stats - B'reishit
First of the 54 sedras; first of 12 sedras in B’reishit
Written on 241 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks…
Three Phases of Creation
Phase One is B’reishit. Specifically, the first two p’sukim of the Torah. In the beginning, originally, G-d created the Heavens and the Earth. “Before” (can’t really use this word) B’REISHIT, there was nothing besides G-d. Nothing. And B’reishit, He created something from nothing - YEISH MEI’AYIN. Not just something, but everything. All matter, all energy, all time… EVERYTHING. Phase One. And after Phase One - before Phase Two, what was there? TOHU VAVOHU, void and chaos, a primordial mixture of everything… without shape and form, yet.
Continue ReadingFor Parashat B'reishit
Two of the oldest topics to appear in this column are AMEIN CHATUFA and the correct pronunciation of the name of G-d that ends in a PATACHed MAPIK HEI (eLO-ak, not eLO-ka).
Continue ReadingDivrei Menachem - Parashat B'reishit
The first six days of creation are clouded in mystery. Yet, in the same vein, Shabbat - the day by which Hashem had completed His work and abstained from all His work that He had done (B’reishit 2:2) - is pregnant with paradox…
Continue ReadingA Horrible Mistake
In a story ripped from recent headlines… Sean & Carolyn Savage, a non-Jewish couple living in Ohio struggling with fertility issues endured 10 long years of waiting for that special moment. A moment that all fertility-challenged couples face. The moment when they hear the news, “Congratulations, you are going to have a baby.”
Continue ReadingParsha Points to Ponder for B'reishit
1) At the end of each stage of creation the Torah records that G-D SAW IT AND IT WAS GOOD. What, then, is added by the statement at the end of creation that G-D SAW ALL THAT HE DID AND IT WAS VERY GOOD (1:31)?...
Continue ReadingChizuk & Idud for B'reishit
The parsha teaches us that it is incumbent on Man “to replenish the earth and to subdue it” (B’reishit 1:28). The purpose of this obligation was to establish the earth in its entirety as a sanctuary for the Divine presence, similar to what the Jewish People would subsequently build in the desert. The earth would be ruled by Man and through him by those G-dly attributes that give Man his identity as he who was created in G-d’s image.
Continue ReadingVebbe Rebbe - Netilat Yadayim on clean hands
Q: With concern about “swine flu” so high, many would consider it hygienically prudent to wash their hands with soap and water before doing netilat yadayim [N"Y] with a jointly used washing cup and eating. Is it possible to do N"Y with a b’racha when you know that your hands are clean already? If one can, should he dry his hands before doing N"Y
Continue ReadingKorach & Co. [8]
...They justified the punishment meted out to Korach, Datan and Aviram since they openly revolted against the teaching of G-d, however, they maintained that the first-born had a legitimate role to play as priestly functionaries and so did not deserve death. So they murmured against Moshe and Aharon, saying that that it was only their advice regarding the offering of the incense that caused the deaths of the first-born. However…
Continue ReadingLesson # 495 - Betrothal of a minor cont.
We have been discussing the betrothal of a minor girl, less than 12 years old. After leaving the state of minor she becomes a NA’ARA for a half year.
If during this six month period of being a NA’ARA her father betrothed her without her consent and knowledge, and she became betrothed without her father’s consent and knowledge, and she is found to be physically mature, she is doubtfully betrothed to each and requires a Get from each man. The result would be the same if only her father had…
In This Issue of Torah Tidbits
- Lead Tidbit
- Guest Article
- Candle A Day
- Jewish Law
- Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
- Sedra Stats
- Vebbe Rebbe
- Portion of the Portion
- Parsha Points to Ponder
- Person In The Parsha
- Ethical Teachings of the Torah
- Chizuk and Idud
- Towards Better Davening and Torah Reading
- Divrei Menachem
- "From Machon Puah"
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Sedra Stats
First of the 54 sedras; first of 12 sedras in B’reishit
Written on 241 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks…