(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(1) when God began to create heaven and earth—
1) Some translate "bereishit" as "when," "in the beginning," "in the beginning of," or even "at the beginning of time." How do you translate "bereishit?"
2) How do you reconcile this biblical creation narrative with the scientific creation narrative of the world?
2) How do you reconcile this biblical creation narrative with the scientific creation narrative of the world?
(ב) וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃
(2) the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water—
1) There has been much ink spilled over "Tohu va'vohu," the formless void before the creation of the world. What comes before creation, either in this narrative or in your general understanding of creation of art, life, relationships, innovation, writing, etc.?
2) "Ruach Elohim" here describes a "wind from God." In Genesis 3:8, "l'ruach hayom" describes the breezy time of day when the sound of God was present in the Garden of Eden. How do you understand "ruach" (wind) in these two contexts? What is or isn't Godly about wind?
2) "Ruach Elohim" here describes a "wind from God." In Genesis 3:8, "l'ruach hayom" describes the breezy time of day when the sound of God was present in the Garden of Eden. How do you understand "ruach" (wind) in these two contexts? What is or isn't Godly about wind?
(ג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃
(3) God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
(ד) וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
(4) God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
1) Why does God separate light from darkness?
2) This verse's description of light as "good" can be interpreted as an early source for colorism. How do you understand the metaphor of "light" and "darkness" -- which appears frequently in Jewish and other traditions? Is there something we can or should do about this?
2) This verse's description of light as "good" can be interpreted as an early source for colorism. How do you understand the metaphor of "light" and "darkness" -- which appears frequently in Jewish and other traditions? Is there something we can or should do about this?
(ה) וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ {פ}
(5) God called the light Day, and the darkness God called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day.
1) "There was evening and there was morning" is a foundation for the days starting in the evening on the Jewish calendar. What does it mean for our days to start in the evening? How does it affect our experience for dusk to be the transition between days?
2) Why doesn't God call darkness "good" the way God does light?
2) Why doesn't God call darkness "good" the way God does light?