Parshas Bereshit: A New Beginning

This week’s Torah portion, Bereshit (Genesis) 1:1 - 6:8, challenges us with the notion that God, the Creator of everything, is and always will be. From before time began through all eternity, God the Creator is the power and energy driving all mysterious and mundane happenings alike. Everything that we can see, feel, hear, touch, smell and somehow intuitively know comes from this Source that is able to create all things from nothing!

Respect Life

The life force that animates all creation inspires awe and curiosity. Jews are taught to respect life in all its variety and forms. We are tasked with protecting and caring for God’s precious and valuable creation out of respect and appreciation for the Divine will.

The early onset of human self will, guilt and shame in the story of the serpent introduces a competing agenda for human beings. Not content with the simple tasks of daily living in the Garden, Adam and Eve opt to pursue personal satisfactions rather than respecting life and serving God. 

Knowing and Doing 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."

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

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

Knowing and Doing Good

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? Are you pursuing material gain and personal satisfaction and security by aiding and abetting abortion homicide? Are you suffering a spiritual death?

Because 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.

No matter our past, today we can enjoy these spiritual gifts with a simple change of heart. We can seek healing for harms done by our support of abortion and our past abortion experiences.  We can take actions that support human life in the womb.

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

Isaiah reinforces this redemptive message in our Haftorah portion 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.

Today is the day!

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.