Emmanuel's Email : Shabbos Tzetl: Bereshit & Mevarchim

Friday 13 October 2023

Shabbos Tzetl: Bereshit & Mevarchim

6:18pm - Early candle lighting

7:17pm - Candle Lighting, Friday

8:16pm - Havdalah, Saturday

(Melbourne Australia)

Eruv Status: KOSHER

Shabbat Shalom!

Bless New Month

This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of the upcoming month of Cheshvan (also known as "MarCheshvan"), which falls on Sunday and Monday of next week.

Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. See molad times.

Please click here to view the Yeshivah Shule Tzetel for Shabbos Bereishis. Please click here to view the PDFs of Weekly Publications.

PARSHAH IN A NUTSHELL

Genesis 1:1–6:8

The name of the Parshah, "Bereishit," means "In the beginning" and it is found in Genesis 1:1.

G‑d creates the world in six days. On the first day He makes darkness and light. On the second day He forms the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He sets the boundaries of land and sea, and calls forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixes the position of the sun, moon and stars as timekeepers and illuminators of the earth. Fish, birds and reptiles are created on the fifth day; land animals, and then the human being, on the sixth. G‑d ceases work on the seventh day, and sanctifies it as a day of rest.

G‑d forms the human body from the dust of the earth, and blows into his nostrils a "living soul." Originally Man is a single person, but deciding that "it is not good that man be alone," G‑d takes a "side" from the man, forms it into a woman, and marries them to each other.

Adam and Eve are placed in the Garden of Eden, and commanded not to eat from the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil." The serpent persuades Eve to violate the command, and she shares the forbidden fruit with her husband. Because of their sin, it is decreed that man will experience death, returning to the soil from which he was formed, and that all gain will come only through struggle and hardship. Man is banished from the Garden.

Eve gives birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain quarrels with Abel and murders him, and becomes a rootless wanderer. A third son, Seth, is born to Adam; Seth's eighth-generation descendant, Noah, is the only righteous man in a corrupt world.

HAFTORAH IN A NUTSHELL

I Samuel 20:18–42

Today's haftarah is read on a Shabbat that is immediately followed by Rosh Chodesh. Indeed, the reading opens with the words, "Jonathan said, 'Tomorrow is the [first of the] new month."

The story is one of loyalty and devotion. David and Jonathan are dear friends. Jonathan's father, King Saul, despises David, fearing that he will depose him from the throne. Sensing danger, Jonathan told David to hide in the field rather than attend Saul's Rosh Chodesh feast. Jonathan then attended the feast and gauged the king's mood. Realizing that Saul was determined to kill David, Jonathan went out to the field, shot three arrows and called to his assistant, "The arrow is beyond you," a predetermined signal to his friend that it was not safe to return to the king's palace.

Before parting, the two friends kissed and wept, and swore to maintain their mutual affection for generations to come.

SAGES ON THE PARSHAH

In the beginning G‑d created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)

The Torah says: "I was the tool of G‑d's artistry." An architect who builds a palace does not do so on his own; he has scrolls and notebooks which he consults regarding how to place the rooms, where to set the doors. So it was with G‑d: He looked into the Torah and created the world.

(Midrash Rabbah)

G‑d looked into the Torah and created the world. Man looks into Torah and sustains the world.

(Zohar)

https://w2.chabad.org/media/pdf/6205.pdf

LAMPLIGHTER
Lamplighter 1627-Bereishis.pdf