Parshas Bereishit: Life is Sacred

This week’s Torah portion, Bereishit (Genesis) 1:1 - 6:8, challenges us to acknowledge that human life is sacred because we are made in God's image. The mind of God has a receptacle in the human being in order to express God's will in the physical world. 

Human Life is Sacred

The Torah teaches us to respect human life because we are made in God’s image. This means that the human being manifests God’s creative positivity and a Divine consciousness in the world. These metaphysical, yet powerful elements animate our thoughts, words and deeds to create a Heaven on Earth.

Torah's first principle is to be fruitful and multiply. The significant placement of this foundational instruction early in Torah enables the expansion of God's presence in the world for all times in the future.

It is this first principle that must be the guiding influence in human reasoning. Protecting innocent human life at every stage of development must supersede every seemingly rational reason to destroy it.

Destroying Innocent Human Life is Evil

Soon after Adam and Eve gain knowledge of good and evil, HaShem asks them, “Where are you?” Of course, He knows exactly where they are, both logistically and spiritually. They are hiding in shame after clearly disobeying His will.

When HaShem asks them, “Did you disobey Me?” they justify their choices and blame each other. They offer no apology, show no contrition, nor do they take responsibility for their actions. As a result, they suffer a spiritual death. They forfeit a Heaven on earth.

Tragic long term family problems follow immediately after this fateful decision. In a fit of rage motivated by pride and envy, Cain murders his brother, Abel. The Almighty witnesses the crime, as well as the generational loss of life that follows. In Genesis 4:10, the Hebrew text uses the plural of blood. God asks Cain, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's bloods crieth unto to me from the Ground."

https://sharetorah.com/torah/genesis-bereishit/genesis-410/

The sin of murder removes Cain from God’s protection and favor. He endures  terrible anxiety, depression, guilt and self-pity throughout the remainder of his life. He suffers a spiritual death.

This departure from righteousness in the first chapters of Genesis begins a downward spiral of error and bad judgement into the first ten generations of human existence. Eventually, evil reigns supreme. Murder and mayhem define the times. The portion closes with God regretting the gift of life He bestows to human beings at the time of creation.

Life from Creation thru Redemption

Isaiah offers a redemptive message in the Haftorah portion we usually study this week, Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 42:5-21. Through the prophet, God reminds us that He creates every person and every thing. He designs the unfolding of creation, both past and future.

Isaiah foresees a time in human history when the Jewish people will regain their spiritual center in God. At that time, all the people of the world who have suffered greatly from their self imposed exile from Heaven will turn back to right thinking and right living.

We have an alternative Haftorah portion this week to observe Rosh Chodesh, the new moon festival commencing on Shabbat. I Shmuel (Samuel) 20:18-42  pertains to the imminent arrival of the Rosh Chodesh festival by peeking into the festival celebrations hosted by King Saul.

David's life and so his destined role in Jewish history depends upon Saul's decision to issue an assassination order on David's life. Saul's son, Jonathan, risks his family position and his life to save David's life.

Are You Doing Good or Evil

Everyday, HaShem asks each one of us, “Where are you?” Where is your thinking today? Are you thinking about Me or yourself? Are you making choices that sanctify My Holy name by supporting and protecting unborn children and their vulnerable parents in this era of legal baby killing?

Or, are you pursuing evil by supporting and facilitating killing helpless unborn children and exploiting their misguided parents? 

Torturing babies to death is evil. Whether justified by misplaced compassion, personal ambition, social concerns, financial hardship, or forced through manipulation and coercion, killing innocent babies in the womb defies the will of the Creator. This act of defiance has major ruinous consequences.

Children in the womb are part of God’s creation. They qualify for our protection and care no matter the cost to our personal, professional, or family position. Serving, respecting and pleasing God by assuming this responsibility brings deeper satisfaction, peace and pleasure than any worldly gain or success achieved by doing harm to others.

Today we can enjoy these spiritual gifts with a simple change of heart and mind. No matter our past actions and ideas, we can heal from the harms done by our former support of abortion and our past abortion experiences. 

Tikvat Rachel Healing Program  https://jewishprolifefoundation.org/healing-after-abortion

Life can be good again, free from remorse and self centered justifications that cause us chronic psychic and spiritual pain. All that is needed is a humble acknowledgment that human life is sacred and a humble willingness to create a life affirming Heaven here, today and everyday.

Who among you will hearken to this, will listen and hear for the future? Isaiah 42:23.

Please share this post on your social media to amplify our message in this troubled world. Thank you.

Cecily Routman 

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.

Cecily Routman is the founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. She opposes abortion homicide in general and among Jews in particular and laments secular policy making in Israel that results in loss of Jewish life and delays the messianic redemption. She envisions a Torah based holy Land of Israel and a world that respects the life of every human being from conception.

Please visit our Hebrew blog on our Israel website.