Words from the Author
On “BERESHIT
BARA”- In a personal tone
We can assume that there many houses around the world with a Bible.Yet
How many homes open up the book of all books and read it with their
children? One of the major reasons for distancing ourselves from the
Bible arises from the growing gap between the everyday
language
and the language of the Bible. The Initiative “BERESHIT
BARA” was set out with the desire to bring children and
adults
from all sectors of the society, closer to The Bible, in its original
language. As someone who for many years is open to listening to young
children and writes for them, I am amazed by the ability of youngsters
to acquire language, even a few languages at the same time. The
language of the Bible can be acquired like any other language, if
children are exposed to it in the proper way and at the right time.
Without our paying attention to it, Children from the youngest of ages
invest great and relentless efforts to acquire reading skills as well!
Who hasn’t experienced the scene where a one year old sits
with a
book on his knees, murmuring. If he could answer the question,
”What are you doing?” He would definitely exclaim
proudly,
“I am reading!”. Children aspire to
acquire language,
exactly in the same way that they acquire speech, on their own, in
their own time, at the pace that suits them. That is the reason that
from infancy until the beginning grades, they are attracted especially
to books with less words, and with clear and supportive illustrations.
With these types of books, they are guaranteed success in
“reading”, long before they learn the letters of
the
alphabet.
With “BERESHIT BARA” initiative, I looked for a way
to
introduce and aid children, who are at the most suitable age, to
acquire proficiency in the Bible language. I seek to make Bible stories
and the language of the Bible a natural part of childhood.
Why is the story that opens the Bible so right for the young child? In
the story of the Creation of the World, just like in the life of a
child that is learning the world. Space is created, time is created,
man is created, language is created, culture is created, that is why it
is such a meaningful story for young children and it soothes their
heart.
In the book BERESHIT BARA I offer children from the youngest of ages, a
unique literary experience that will allow them to be partners in
creation and partners in reading. The fact that at young ages, children
and parents read the same books, strengthened my belief in this
direction, that demands cooperation between child and adult. Our
sources have already provided an enlightened educational approach whose
expression is found in the Bible summed up in the phrase -
“Educate the child according to his ways” I seek to
apply
this ancient, and innovative approach, and in this spirit to bring
children and parents closer to the Book of Books. The preparation for
the book Genesis Creates has taken more than twenty years.
Amazing people have joined me along the way. With their help the
blessing has manifested, Their names are on the preface and
acknowledgements are at the end of the book.
Rabbi from Rozin once said:
“
This is the work of the man
all
his
life, to transform material into form, to refine the body and to bring
the light into the darkness, until the darkness itself will light up,
and there will no longer be any division between light and dark. Like
it is written: “There was Night, there was morning- One
day.”
Taken from Martin Buber- The Hidden
Light