Are We Really Adding? - Parshas Bereishis! (2023 Version)

Throughout our lives, we were taught new things every year that prepared us for the future. For example, in first grade, we were taught to do addition to prepare us for topics more complex such as multiplication. This week, it occurred to me that generally when we finish something such as a math textbook, we don't repeat it the next year. We only use the knowledge to propel us forward.

In this week’s parsha, we read about the creation of the world. Every year, we read through this same story. First, the light was created in order to make the world habitable for humans. Then, Adam and Chava were created, etc. It was interesting to me because every year, we repeat the same torah no matter how many times we finished it previously. One day this week, I asked my mother this question and she answered as follows. “Learning about the creation of the world every year gives us a greater understanding of something we may have missed, it isn't repetition".

Sometimes life seems to be on repeat. For example, one may wake up, go to work and then go to sleep. If our life is a repeated story like re-learning the same math textbook, we cannot grow. However, if we experience our life in the way of the torah, always trying to learn and do even the smallest thing to make today not like yesterday. Then we can crush all our obstacles and make this world a better place!

Good Shabbos

All the best

Avroham Y Ross