We start with a void, nothingness, and HaShem simply says “Let there be light,” and there is light. HaShem then says it is good. Our origins derive from Mesopotamia, and it is worth comparing our origin story with the oldest written in the region. The Enuma Elish according to N.S. Gill, Learn Religions, was found on seven tablets written by the Assyrians and Babylonians in the second millennium BCE. In their story, there is a huge battle of cosmic proportions between Marduk, the storm god, and Tiamat, the sea goddess seeking vengeance for the death of her husband. Marduk ultimately prevails, using Tiamant’s body to form the sky and the earth. He forms the great Mesopotamian rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates from the tears in her eyes and creates mankind from the blood of Tiamant’s son and spouse Kingu, so they may serve the gods.
Compare that to our origin myth in Bereishit. Our HaShem simply says, “let it be so.” And it is so. No big deal, no struggle, HaShem simply does it. We do not see the name of HaShem here, rather the word Elohim. It’s a common word for deity in Hebrew, but early on was also used for Pagan deities. The Rabbis would suggest it included the angels who were below HaShem.
Etz Chaim commentary suggests that HaShem creates with words, clearly implying the power of words to create and destroy. As Jews we take this lesson to heart, calling ourselves the people of the book, or the power of words. HaShem creates light, symbolized in our Jewish lives by the Ner Tamid and the menorah. HaShem continues with creation, forming the stars, moon, earth, all the living things and man and woman by the sixth day in the first creation story ending with Bereishit 2:3. HaShem’s work is not completed but they call for the seventh day, Shabbat to be set aside as sacred and holy when no work is to be done.
The Vilna Gaon suggests we should set aside unfinished business on Friday afternoon to prepare for Shabbat. One thought occurred to me. At the end of Torah in D’varim, Moshe who has led the people to the promised land, dies on the Mountain, ending Torah with the unfinished business of crossing over to Eretz Israel. It seems to be a reminder that we all will leave unfinished business, but we are all called to do our part towards completion, specifically to repair the world, a core tenant of our faith.
There’s another interesting comparison between beginning and end of Torah. In Bereishit, after Chava (Eve) and Adam have been cast out of the Garden, HaShem creates leather clothing for them to wear. At the end of D’varim, Moshe dies and HaShem buries him. The beginning and the ending of Torah are marked by acts of kindness.
Back to our story. We indeed have two creation stories. In Bereishit 1:27, HaShem creates man and woman. But in Bereishit2:7 HaShem creates Adam (his name) from Adamah (earth or clay) and breathes the breath of life into his nostrils. But he finds he needs a partner (helper) and so he puts Adam into a deep sleep and creates Chava from his rib. She is companion, helper, wife, and mother. He has created Eden, an idyllic garden. Through it runs a river which branches off to form the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. There is but one rule for living this peaceful existence, to not eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Historical note, the Sumerians had an island in their creation story, and the Epic of Gilgamesh also speaks of a garden.
Chava meets the serpent who proceeds to talk her into partaking of the fruit of the forbidden tree. In the culture of the day, serpents were considered occult figures. But in our story, it’s simply a creation of HaShem. Eve eats from the fruit, and she shares it with Adam. It was Eve who says she is seeking knowledge. They become aware of their nakedness and try to hide from HaShem. An interesting side note here from the Torah: A Women’s Commentary. It is always Chava who communicates with and names HaShem, not Adam. They are cast out of the garden, the serpent is punished by becoming the lowliest of the low, Chava by painful childbirth, and all humankind with finite lives ending in death.
Still, HaShem was not completely angry with them. After all he clothes them as they enter our world. Some equate this with the transition from childhood to adulthood, and all that comes with that. They go on and have two sons, Cain, and Abel. One farms while the other herds sheep. They are commanded to bring gifts for HaShem. Cain brings produce, while Abel gifts his best animal. HaShem pays heed to Abel, but not Cain. Cain is angry and goes and kills his brother. For that Cain is cursed to wander. He settles in Nod, meets his wife and they have a son named Enoch. They found a city by the same name. What follows are genealogies leading to Noach.
Reflecting on our creation story, I find myself in agreement with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks of blessed memory, when he speaks to how we humans are apart from other creatures because of our gift of the spoken word. From that gift, our own creations are born. The idea, the vision, the concept, the action making it reality. Imperfect, yes, but we have moved from the pastoral economies living in tents and mudbrick houses to an age of cities, flight, computers and so much more because people had an idea, and saw it become reality. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” May we bring life, creating good and repairing our world in our journey on this planet before our time has come. Each day brings possibility for blessing. May it be so! Shabbat Shalom!
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