Editing Bereshis (parshah)

The Torah is divided into 54 weekly portions, called ''Parshiyos'' (singular: ''Parsha''). Each week, we read and study one Parsha, completing the entire Torah annually. Parshas Bereshis is the very first weekly Torah portion. It begins the cycle anew each year, immediately after the holiday of Simchas Torah.

== '''Parsha in a Nutshell''' ==
'''The name of the Parshah, "Bereshis," 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.

== '''Aliyah Summary''' ==
'''First Aliyah:''' This section recounts the story of creation in six days. On the first day G‑d made darkness and light. On the second day He formed the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He set the boundaries of land and sea and called forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixed the position of the sun, moon and stars. Fish, birds and reptiles were created on the fifth day; land-animals, and then the human being, Adam, on the sixth. G‑d ceased work on the seventh day, and sanctified it as a day of rest.

'''Second Aliyah:''' This section discusses the events of the sixth day of creation in greater detail. After Adam was formed from the earth, G‑d placed him in a garden just east of Eden. G‑d permitted Adam to eat from any tree in the garden, with the exception of the Tree of Knowledge. Adam named all the animals and birds, and G‑d decided that Adam needed a mate.

'''Third Aliyah:''' G‑d caused Adam to fall into a deep slumber and formed a woman, Eve, from one of his sides. Adam was delighted with his new mate. The serpent, at the time the wisest of all animals, sweet-talked Eve into eating from the fruit of the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Eve shared the fruit with Adam, and imbued with a new sense of knowledge and awareness, they were ashamed of their nakedness and clothed themselves. The fallout was quick to come: G‑d cursed the serpent, Eve, and Adam too, with various maledictions.

'''Fourth Aliyah:''' Adam and Eve were then expelled from the idyllic Garden of Eden. Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. When Abel's offering to G‑d was accepted, while Cain's was rejected, Cain murdered his brother in a jealous rage. G‑d punished Cain, designating him to be a lifelong wanderer, but postponing his ultimate punishment for seven generations.

'''Fifth Aliyah:''' The sixth generation descendent of Cain was Lemech, who fathered several children — seventh generation descendents of Cain.

'''Sixth Aliyah:''' Lemech accidentally killed his great-great-great-great-grandfather Cain in a hunting accident; the blood of Abel was finally avenged. Adam and Eve gave birth to a third son, Seth. This section then chronicles the first seven generations of mankind, from Adam to the righteous Enoch.

'''Seventh Aliyah:''' The next three generations are chronicled in this section — concluding with Noah, the tenth generation from Adam. At this point in time, the wickedness and immorality of the people on earth reached such proportions that G‑d regretted creating man. G‑d gave the world 120 years to clean up their act or be destroyed. Noah, on the other hand, was an exception. He was righteous and found favor in G‑d's eyes.
[[he:פרשת בראשית]]