Rabbi Gary Pokras
  • Home
  • About
  • Israel
  • Torah
  • Sermons
  • Blog
  • Experience
  • Contact

Bereishit - 5776

10/8/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Genesis 1:1 - 6:8

​The rabbis say that one should not ask about what happened before “In the Beginning …” Then, they go on to offer multiple answers! In the classic anthology of midrash, Bereishit Rabbah (1:4), we read: “Six things preceded the creation of the world. Some were actually created, and others came up only in God’s thought as what was to be created. Torah and the throne of glory were created. The creation of the fathers [and mothers], Israel, the Temple and the name of the Messiah came up only in God’s thought …” As we begin the Torah again this Shabbat with Bereishit, we might ask ourselves how we plan to build on the holidays that are now behind us. We have a New Year, a new beginning, and yet, before we can really create whatever we have chosen to make of this year, we should also engage in a time of planning, and of developing the tools we need for success. Let’s learn from our Creator and take the time now, each in our own ways, to articulate our goals for the year, the steps we will need to take to reach them, the things we may need to overcome, and what it will all look like when we succeed. After all, if it’s good enough for God, it’s probably good enough for us.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Hi there!  I am the senior rabbi at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville, Maryland, where I have served since 2016.  

    Archives

    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Community
    Education
    God
    Holidays
    Identity
    Interfaith
    Leadership
    Love
    Mitzvot (Commandments)
    Shabbat
    Social Justice
    Spirituality
    Wisdom

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
(c) copyright 2018 by Rabbi Gary Pokras
  • Home
  • About
  • Israel
  • Torah
  • Sermons
  • Blog
  • Experience
  • Contact