Breisheet, Genesis 1-6:8, is the first Torah portion. It begins with two apparently different stories of creation. Genesis 1:3-2:3 describes creation through God's speech. God declares, and creation takes place. The process takes seven days:

Day One: Light

Day Two: the Canopy of heaven separating the waters above the earth and the waters under the earth

Day Three: Seas, Dry Land, Vegetation

Day Four: Sun, Moon, Stars

Day Five: Sea Creatures and Flying Creatures

Day Six: Land Creatures and Humans

Day Seven: Shabbat

The most controversial verses deal with the creation of humans. Genesis 1:26-27 state: "And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.' And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." God gives to humans the first commandment: Be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 2:4-25 describes a seemingly different kind of creation. God forms an earthling out of earth, and breathes life into his nostrils. God plants a garden in Eden including the tree of knowledge of good and bad. God places the earthling in the Garden "to till and tend it." God commands the earthling not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad. (There is no commandment to be fruitful and multiply)

In order for the earthling not to be alone, God creates out of earth all animals. The earthling names them but remains alone. From the earthling's rib (or side) God creates woman. The chapter ends with two anthropological notes: Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife; so that they become one flesh. The two of them were naked, the man and his woman, yet they felt no shame.

Chapter 3 introduces the serpent, "more naked (shrewd)" than all of the wild beasts. The serpent convinces the woman to eat the forbidden fruit. She does so and gives it to the man to eat. He does so. They realize that they are naked and dress themselves in fig-leaf loin cloths.

Adonai confronts first the man, then the woman. Adonai punishes the serpent, punishes the woman, and punishes Earthling (Adam).

The man names his woman Eve. Adonai provides the man and woman with skin garments. The man and woman are expelled from the Garden

Chapter 4 begins with the woman giving birth to Cain and then Abel. Abel is a shepherd; Cain is a farmer. Cain brings a offering to Adonai. Abel brings an offering. God accepts Abel's offering. God says to Cain,..."But if you do not do right, Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, yet you can be its master."

Cain kills Abel. When asked by God where his brother is, Cain answers, "I do not know; Am I my brother's keeper?"

God responds: "The voice of your brother's bloods cries to me from the ground." Cain becomes a wanderer. He is protected by God with a mark. He has offspring. Among them are Yaval, the first tent-dweller and shepherd; Yuval, the first lyre and pipe-player; and Tuval-Cain, the first maker of copper and iron implements.

Chapter 4 ends with Adam again procreating; Eve bears Seth. Seth has a son, Enosh. "It was then that men began to invoke the Lord by name."

Chapter 5 provides a listing of the ten generations from Adam to Noah (including Noah's three sons Shem, Ham, and Yafet).

The Torah portion ends with "divine beings" taking wives from among the humans. God determines that the limit of a human life would be 120 years. Humans are rotten; God decides to wipe out all living creatures, "but Noah found favor with Adonai."

Some Thoughts and Questions

1. Who is the "us" of "Let us make man in our image?"

2. How do you explain the two different creation stories?

3. God declares all days to be "good" or "very good" except Day Number Two. Why?

4. "Sin couches at the door" hints at our Evil Inclination. What is it?

5. According to our sages, the woman is punished with ten punishments. Can you figure them out?

6. We're told in Genesis 2:15 that God placed Adam in the Garden "to till the ground." What's the punishment for Adam in Genesis 3:17?

7. Who are the "divine beings" mentioned in 6:1?

8. What significance might there be when we're told that the serpent was the most arum, naked, of animals?

from Jewish Gates