BERESHIT BARA - Commentary
The existence of the commentary alongside the holy text is customary in
the tradition of Israel, In the book BERESHIT BARA the biblical text is
found on the the basic text. In the opening windows there is additional
text that relates in different ways to the Source.
The Word
“Elohim” G-d
The first window, small and round demonstrates our discovery that even
if we take out a letter from the word Elohim, letter after letter. The
meaning of the word will remain - Elohim, Elohi. Ela, El, E.
Amazement and Wonder
The square page that opens for the first time under Tohu Vevohu,
“chaos”, is called with its inspiration, amazement
and
wonder (in Hebrew TEHIYOT OBEHIYOT). In the continuation of the book
the page Amazement and Wonder opens always under “It is
good” (CI TOV). There exists a symbology, between the
connection
“It is good”, that is a designed a seal of quality
and the
seal of the King, upon which there is no dispute, and the
window,
Tohu Vevohu, “chaos”, that opens below it, that
awakens
questions, listening and discussion. On the page, Amazement and Wonder,
we encounter members of one family and a group of children with a
kindergarten teacher, that raise different issues that bring the
content of the days of creation closer to the reader. The sayings of
the children quoted there, are not jokes! It is possible and worthwhile
to make use of them to open an honest discussion on the issue. When on
the first day one of the children wonders: If G-d created light, why
did he leave the darkness? it raises a great question for debate at any
age...
The word BERESHIT
After The Sabbath day, there is a page that deals with the word
BERESHIT. You will find in it little words and sentences that are
hidden in the word, and more of its mysteries. You can wonder about the
surprising connection between the names of the days of the week- that
are also the first counting names- and the word BERESHIT. Twenty three
of the letters of the names of the days of the week find their source
in the word Genesis and only seven are not.
Three windows at the end of
each day of the days of creation
Language
window
In the opening window, always a page that counts the days- First day,
second day and so on - The reader is invited to to meet words and
sentences from that same day: to play with them, to discover what is
hidden in them and their connection to other words and our messages.
The
Commentary Window
This opening reminds us in its form The Holy Ark and we bring there
small commentaries from the sources, that are connected to each to each
day of Creation. This is a great opportunity to taste from the
treasures of our sages that we have inherited. The illustration of
Sonia Sechel enliven the commentaries and bring them closer to us.
The
Songs window
In this opening is offered a poem from that day of Creation, written by
mirik Snir. The poetic illustrations decorate the poems. This window is
meant to encourage the reader to connect to the story and to create in
its way.
The book BERESHIT BARA offers the audience of the book to taste from
additional levels of the tradition that connect with the Bible stories,
to comment on them oneself, to create with their inspiration and to
discover the relevancy of the Book of Genesis in their lives.