Rabbi Asher
Vaknin
Parashat Bereshit is not just the beginning of a book—it is the beginning of a way of seeing life. Every word holds eternal messages, and every verse contains a hint for the inner work we are meant to do in the world. Here are seven messages from Parashat Bereshit that speak directly to our everyday lives, not just in Eden but here and now, each one illustrated by a powerful true story.
1st Message: Chaos Begets Creation
The first message: every beginning starts with chaos. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was tohu vavohu—formless and void—and darkness was on the face of the deep.” Then, suddenly: “Let there be light.” This is the first great secret of creation—light doesn’t come from more light; it comes out of darkness. That’s how change works in our lives, too. Every new start—studying, relationships, career—begins not from clarity, but from confusion, fear, or uncertainty. Yet it is from that very darkness that light can emerge. Like the story of Miriam, a single mother from Jerusalem who found herself standing hopelessly at a bus stop after being laid off. She didn’t know how she’d feed her kids. A stranger approached, asked how she was, and truly listened. The next day, she connected Miriam to an organization that provided food and job training. Miriam studied, rebuilt her life, and today she’s a financial coach. “From my darkest place,” she says, “came the greatest light.”
2nd Message: We Are Made in God’s Image
The second message: every person is created in the image of God. The Torah describes how man was created—not as an animal, not as a tool—but as a divine being: “in the image of God.” No matter where someone is born, what their background or bank account says—they carry a spark of the divine. This message shines especially in the story of Meir, a teenager who ended up on the streets at 15 and was involved in crime. He was sent to a youth rehab program. Everyone had given up on him—except one rabbi who looked him in the eye and said, “You are holy. You’re an angel who just hasn’t learned how to fly yet.” That sentence, said just once, started his turnaround. Meir became a counselor, then a rabbi himself. Every person is a diamond—sometimes you just need to brush off the dust.
3rd Message: Freedom Comes from Responsibility
The third message: true freedom comes from responsibility. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden with complete freedom—but also a mission: to work it and guard it. Later, when he chooses wrong, he must face the consequences. This is the foundation of free will—not running from responsibility, but living within it. Rivka, a successful attorney, once rushed a case without reading all the details, due to pressure from her firm. That mistake deeply harmed her client. Rivka could’ve blamed others—but she chose accountability. She called the client, offered to make amends, and learned from the failure. Today, she is known for her unwavering integrity.
4th Message: Communication Builds Connection
The fourth message: real relationships require words, not assumptions. When Adam meets Eve, he doesn’t call her “my wife” or “the mother of my kids”—he speaks to her: “This one is bone of my bone.” He acknowledges her humanity. Communication builds connection—not assumptions. This played out in the lives of Beni and Ronit, married for ten years and slowly growing distant. They were on the verge of divorce when a counselor suggested, “Talk—not about the kids, or bills—talk about you.” They committed to 15 minutes of screen-free conversation every day. Within weeks, they began to rediscover one another. Honest speech is the oxygen of any relationship.
5th Message: Love Heals
The fifth message: jealousy distorts reality—but love heals it. Cain and Abel bring offerings. God accepts Abel’s. Cain, overcome with jealousy, kills his brother. The first murder in history wasn’t caused by hunger or war—but by envy. Yet the Torah shows we can choose differently. Take the story of Amichai and Noam, coworkers. Amichai was promoted to a high position, and Noam—who felt equally deserving—became bitter and distant. But after speaking with a mentor, Noam made a brave choice: to congratulate Amichai, to support him. Amichai’s response was so grateful that it turned their strained relationship into a close friendship. “When I chose love,” Noam says, “I freed myself from the prison of jealousy.”
6th Message: Second Chances
The sixth message: even after failure, there is always a path to repair. Adam and Eve sin—but instead of being banished in shame, God makes them garments and sends them on their journey. Even after failure, there’s hope. Elie Cohen, a man addicted to gambling for over a decade, lost his money, his family, and his self-worth. At rock bottom, he chose to heal. He joined support groups, rebuilt slowly. Today he mentors others and speaks in schools about addiction and recovery. Failure isn’t the end—it’s an invitation to begin again.
7th Message: The World is a Gift—and Our Responsibility
The seventh message: the world was made for you—but you were made to fix the world. Humanity is created last—after everything else is ready. The message? The world is a gift—but also a responsibility. As Rabbi Israel Salanter said, “When one person lights a candle to see the path—they also illuminate it for others.” This is the story of Noga, an architect from Be’er Sheva. While designing new neighborhoods, she noticed they lacked accessible spaces for children with disabilities. She initiated change, contacted city officials, pushed for inclusive planning. Today, that neighborhood includes a special accessible park. “Once I truly listened,” she said, “my profession became a mission.” We, too, were born into a beautiful world—but we must make it just, kind, and better for others.
Seven timeless messages from Parashat Bereshit—seven gates into our own soul. May we remember that even when life begins in chaos, there is light. That every person is made in God’s image. That true freedom means taking responsibility. That deep connection begins with honest words. That jealousy destroys but love transforms. That failure isn’t final—it’s a stepping stone to return. And that the world is waiting not only for us to enjoy it—but to help fix it. Bereshit—“In the beginning”—isn’t just about the past. It’s a new beginning, waiting for us, every single day.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Chatima Tova,
Rabbi Asher Vaknin
BJCC Rabbi of the Bukharian Youth
I approve this message