🐝 Parsha Bee: Bereishit with Rashi

1. 📖 Q: Why does the Torah begin with Creation instead of the first mitzvah?
   🅰️ A: Rashi explains that the Torah should have started with the first mitzvah given to Israel—sanctifying the new moon. But it begins with Creation to establish that God owns the world 🌍. This way, if other nations accuse Israel 🇮🇱 of stealing the land of Canaan, Israel can respond: “God created the world and gave the land to whomever He chose.”

1. 📜 Q: What two things was the world created for?
   🅰️ A: Rashi says the world was created for the sake of the Torah 📘, which is called “the beginning of His way,” and for Israel 👥, who are called “the first of His produce.” These are the spiritual foundations of Creation.

1. 🔤 Q: What grammatical form is “Bereishit”?
   🅰️ A: “Bereishit” is in construct form, meaning “in the beginning of.” It doesn’t mean “first,” which would be “Barishonah.” This shows the verse isn’t about the chronological order of Creation but sets the stage for what follows.

1. ⏳ Q: Why doesn’t the Torah teach the order of Creation?
   🅰️ A: Because water 🌊 is mentioned before earth 🌍, even though its creation isn’t described until later. This implies water existed first. Also, heaven was made from fire 🔥 and water 💧, so the sequence isn’t literal.

1. 🧑‍⚖️ Q: Why is “Elokim” used instead of “Hashem”?
   🅰️ A: Rashi teaches that God originally intended to create the world with strict justice ⚖️ (Elokim), but saw it couldn’t survive that way. So He added mercy 💗 (Hashem), balancing the two attributes.

1. 😲 Q: What does “Tohu Vavohu” mean?
   🅰️ A: “Tohu” means astonishment 😮—a person would be shocked at the emptiness. “Vohu” means desolation 🕳️. Together, they describe the chaotic, unformed state of the early earth.

1. 🕊️ Q: What was hovering over the water?
   🅰️ A: Rashi says the Throne of Glory 👑 hovered like a dove 🕊️ over its nest, symbolizing God’s presence and control even in the chaotic beginning.

1. 🌞🌚 Q: Why did God separate light from darkness?
   🅰️ A: God saw the light was good 🌟, but the wicked didn’t deserve it. So He hid it away for the righteous 🧑‍🦯 in the World to Come 🌈. Practically, He also assigned light to day and darkness to night.

1. 🕐 Q: What does “Yom Echad” teach us?
   🅰️ A: It means “one day,” not “first day,” because God was alone 👤 in His universe. Angels 👼 weren’t created until the second day, emphasizing His singularity.

1. 🌌 Q: What does “Yehi Raki’a” mean?
   🅰️ A: It means “Let the sky be strengthened 💪.” Heaven was created on Day 1 but remained fluid until Day 2, when God solidified it with His command.

1. 💧 Q: Why is upper water suspended above the sky?
   🅰️ A: Rashi says it’s held in place by God’s command 👑. The distance between the upper water and the sky equals the distance between the sky and the lower water.

1. ❌ Q: Why is “Ki Tov” missing on Day 2?
   🅰️ A: Because the work involving water 🌊 wasn’t finished. Only on Day 3, when it was completed, does the Torah say “it was good” twice.

1. 🧪 Q: What does “Shamayim” mean?
   🅰️ A: Rashi gives three meanings: “carry water” 💧, “there is water” 🌊, and “fire and water” 🔥💧—elements God mixed to create heaven.

1. 🐟 Q: Why is the sea called “Yamim” (plural)?
   🅰️ A: Though it’s one ocean 🌊, fish 🐠 taste different in different places, like Akko vs. Aspamia, so it’s called “seas.”

1. 🌳 Q: What was the original command for fruit trees?
   🅰️ A: The tree 🌲 itself was supposed to taste like its fruit 🍎. But the earth didn’t obey fully, so it was later cursed when Adam sinned.

1. ⚠️ Q: Why was the land cursed?
   🅰️ A: Because it didn’t produce trees with bark that tasted like fruit 🍏, as God commanded. It disobeyed, so it shared in Adam’s punishment.

1. 🌿 Q: What does “Deshe” mean?
   🅰️ A: It’s a general term for ground covered with vegetation 🌾. Individual plants are called “Esev,” but “Deshe” refers to the lush green covering.

1. 🧠 Q: Why did vegetation grow “according to species”?
   🅰️ A: Though not commanded directly, plants 🌱 learned from the trees’ command and applied it to themselves using logical reasoning 🧠.

1. 🌞🌝 Q: When were the luminaries created?
   🅰️ A: They were created on Day 1 but placed in the sky 🌌 on Day 4. Everything was created early, but assigned its role later.

1. 😷 Q: Why is “Me’orot” written without a vav?
   🅰️ A: It hints at “curses” 🧙—the fourth day is associated with illness, especially diphtheria in children 👶.

1. 🌘 Q: What do eclipses signify?
   🅰️ A: They are bad omens ⚠️. But Rashi says if we follow God’s will, we don’t need to fear these signs 🌠.

1. 👑 Q: Why were the sun and moon created equal?
   🅰️ A: Originally equal 🌞🌝, but the moon complained, saying two rulers can’t share one crown 👑, so God made it smaller.

1. ✨ Q: How did God appease the moon?
   🅰️ A: He gave it stars 🌟 as companions to comfort it after its reduction.

1. 🐜 Q: What are “Sheretz” creatures?
   🅰️ A: Low-lying creatures 🐛 like flies, ants, and fish. They’re small and close to the ground.

1. 🐉 Q: What is the Leviathan story?
   🅰️ A: God created male and female Leviathan 🐉, but killed the female and preserved it in salt 🧂 for the righteous in the World to Come 🌈.

1. 🎣 Q: Why did sea creatures get a blessing?
   🅰️ A: Because humans hunt 🏹 and eat them 🍽️, reducing their numbers. So God blessed them to multiply.

1. 🐍 Q: Why weren’t land animals blessed?
   🅰️ A: To exclude the serpent 🐍, which would later be cursed for deceiving Eve.

1. 🤝 Q: What does “Na’aseh Adam” teach?
   🅰️ A: God showed humility 🙇 by consulting His heavenly court 👼 before creating man, even though He didn’t need help.

1. 🗣️ Q: Why did God use plural language to create man?
   🅰️ A: To teach humility and proper behavior. Though it opens the door for heretics, the next verse clarifies: “He created” (singular).

1. 🧠 Q: What does “B’tzalmeinu Kidmuteinu” mean?
   🅰️ A: In our image and likeness – meaning man has intellect 🧠 and discernment 👁️, resembling divine qualities.

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