Rabbi Benjamin Yudin Discusses Parshas Bereshis on JM in the AM (5787)

Good morning. Good shabus everybody. Wow. Shabas bacious we have the privilege of starting Torah once again. And according to the in paras we have one mitzvah the mitzvah of puervu literally to have Jewish children. And I say it like that. Initially the mitzvah was to have children and now our rabbis tell us the mitzvah is to raise them as Jewish children. Pasha's batious spans the first thousand years of civilization and we end the para with Noah on the scene. I'd like to focus this morning on the opening rashi on the opening word of the Torah berious and some say that rashi which is an acronym for Schlommoi meaning Schlommo the son of Yeets that maybe he's quoting his father but whoever the Rabitzk is taught the following Israel says, "Wait a minute. The Torah is our constitution." And therefore, the Torah should begin with the second book, chapter 12, which begins with the first mitzvah that was given to the Jewish people as a people in Egypt already, namely the Jewish calendar. And therefore, he goes on the batious. Why do we need the entire book of Batius? Why do we need the account of the seven days of creation? Well, you'll tell me that's a very important point. And the answer to that is that come on, every shabas when we recite the shamu, we are told God created heaven and earth. And so we know that God is the creator and he rested on the seventh day. We're told this already. Why all the particulars and specifically why are we told about the OOS and the relationship to the land? And what is the answer? Rashi quotes from till 111 verse 6 that the literally strength of his actions he revealed to his people in order to give them literally the inheritance of nations. am if the nations of the world should say to the Jewish people you're a bunch of robbersim you have taken unlawfully the lands of seven nations the Jewish people have what to answer the entire world belongs to God who he created the world and he gave it to whomever was fit in his eyes it was his will he gave it to them and in accordance with his will he took it from them and he gave it to us the first point I believe is very very significant. The puk reads come on his schlita, his control over nature. He revealed to his people. On one level, you might say to yourself that if we were to simply tell the rest of the world, do you know what our claim to the land of Israel is? It's the first verse of the Bible. It's the first book of the Bible. Boratious is our deed to the land of Israel. Are they going to accept it? So before we answer that question, I'd like to suggest that this is being addressed to each and every Jew. Too many Jews believe that which the rest of the world says to us, listen, that you are robbers and you are thieves. And therefore the Torah tells us in a most positive affirmative way you should know boracious elim there is a creator the world is his and he gave it to them. Unfortunately, as we read and read on Yumiper afternoon at the end of the para of Aayos Mati that the land literally vomited them out, expelled them because of their immoral behavior. And the Torah warns that we are to watch our ways and if not it will happen to us and indeed it did. But very very important keep in mind and this will bring us to the next point that the land of Israel has a divine connection with the Jewish people. the best proof for almost 2,000 years when we were in exile as the Torah says in the third book chapter 26 verse 32 and this is worth bringing the to your table tonight once again in chapter 26 verse 32 God promises I will make the land desolate when You are not there. And your enemies who will be living and trying to make a go of the land. What will it be for them? It will be desolate. Pinch yourself. This has happened. And therefore, the land of Israel was waiting for the Jewish people for 2,000 years. So the first point is to whom is this rashi speaking? is speaking first and foremost to the Jewish people that the Jewish people should know with a sense of pride this is our land it's just and it's ethical and as the safer some derk points out ziskin brony zono who was the mashk invron yeshiva The book is called which means the book of the just. It begins with a just statement. It begins with an ethical statement that the land of Israel belongs to us. That's the first point. The second point a bit stronger. I really believe that the Torah is not just speaking to us, but when Rabbi says it's speaking to the nations of the world, that's correct. The nations of the world except the Bible. The nations of the world know Tanakh. They know what they call the Old Testament. They see in front of their eyes destiny taking place. They realize how special the land of Israel is. And therefore, if we live up to our Torah, if we keep our Torah with a sense of pride, they will listen and recognize because history, as we mentioned before, has proven us correct that the land belongs to us. And finally, I believe there's one more very significant point which needs to be made in conjunction with boracious and that is Rashi in the second rashi says that the word boracious is not simply a measure of time that in the beginning of God's creating heaven and earth but that the word boracious is actually giving us a reason a cause why did God create the world. So you should know that the cabalists say tea hat the nature of the good one capital G capital O is to give. God created a beautiful world to give to man. And unfortunately, as we read once again this past year on Shabaso Sukos, we're told that elim God made man straight, right? God made man good but unfortunately har unfortunately raim this is the last verse of chapter 7 in cohelis all right Hashem made man straight and unfortunately man goes off on many different improper ways the idea therefore is there's a reason for this world The reason is bacious bishv Torah. The Torah is called races. Bish is the Jewish people are called races. Be racious for the Torah for the Jewish people. Did God create the world? There's a reason for this world. And idea is it's so much more than quote eat, drink, and be merry. No, there's a purpose. There's a mission in life comes the opening word and the teachings of and says that where is the ideal place for the observance of Torah and mitzvos beeracious in the land of Israel. Of course we who still find ourselves now outside the land of Israel. Of course we need Yeshivos. Of course we need. Of course we need mikvos. Of course we need and we need and we need. But we have to realize from the opening word of the Torah where is home for the Jew. And that is a very important lesson because interestingly points out if you look throughout the book of boracious there's only a hint of keeping Torah but the Torah says in paras the Torah in extolling of mish marti visor. Forgive me, it's imposs but that's it. But what you do find is Hashem promising the land to Abraham. Hashem promising the land to Ye. Hashem promising the land to Yu. Why? Because ultimately just as we say to you should be to build a bias a true home in Israel a home that's faithful a home that has shabashish. So too, the ideal place for the Jew, the Torah tells us, is Bacious, the land, the world belongs to Hashem. And this land was chosen by him for gracious for the Torah and the Jewish people. We should be privileged not only to quote visit but to set our aspirations in the right direction as found in the opening word of the Torah. Shabbat shalom to all