Parsha: Bereshit
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah Isaiah 42:5-43:10
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Your Instructor
Jewish Learning by Kimberly D
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Daily Reading Schedule:
Sunday October 6, 2026: Genesis 1:1-2:3
Monday October 7, 2026: Genesis 2:4-19
Tuesday October 8, 2026: Genesis 2:20-3:21
Wednesday October 7, 2026: Genesis 3:22-4:18
Thursday October 8, 2026: Genesis 4:19-22
Friday October 9, 2026: Genesis 4:23-5:24
Saturday October 10, 2026: All of the above Plus Genesis 5:25-6:8 AND
Haftarah for Ashkenazim: Isaiah 42:5-43:10
Haftarah for Sephardim: Isaiah 42:5-21
Talmudic References:
Explore key discussions and cross-references from the Talmud that provide profound depth to the themes of Parsha Bereshit.
1
Tractate Berakhot
Daf Reference: 2a:1-5
(Reference for Gensis 1:1)
The beginning of tractate Berakhot, the first tractate in the first of the six orders of Mishna, opens with a discussion of the recitation of Shema, as the recitation of Shema encompasses an acceptance of the yoke of Heaven and of the mitzvot, and as such, forms the basis for all subsequent teachings. The Mishna opens with the laws regarding the appropriate time to recite Shema:
MISHNA: From when, that is, from what time, does one recite Shema in the evening? From the time when the priests enter to partake of their teruma. Until when does the time for the recitation of the evening Shema extend? Until the end of the first watch. The term used in the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:7) to indicate the time for the recitation of the evening Shema is beshokhbekha, when you lie down, which refers to the time in which individuals go to sleep. Therefore, the time for the recitation of Shema is the first portion of the night, when individuals typically prepare for sleep. That is the statement of Rabbi Eliezer.
The Rabbis say: The time for the recitation of the evening Shema is until midnight. Rabban Gamliel says: One may recite Shema until dawn, indicating that beshokhbekha is to be understood as a reference to the entire time people sleep in their beds, the whole night. The mishna relates that Rabban Gamliel practiced in accordance with his ruling.
There was an incident where Rabban Gamliel’s sons returned very late from a wedding hall. They said to him, as they had been preoccupied with celebrating with the groom and bride: We did not recite Shema. He said to them: If the dawn has not yet arrived, you are obligated to recite Shema. Since Rabban Gamliel’s opinion disagreed with that of the Rabbis, he explained to his sons that the Rabbis actually agree with him, and that it is not only with regard to the halakha of the recitation of Shema, but rather, wherever the Sages say until midnight, the mitzva may be performed until dawn. Rabban Gamliel cites several cases in support of his claim, such as the burning of fats and limbs on the altar.
Due to the quantity of offerings each day, the priests were often unable to complete the burning of all of the fats and limbs, so they continued to be burned into the night, as it is written: “This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall remain upon the pyre on the altar all night until morning, while the fire on the altar burns it” (Leviticus 6:2).
And, with regard to all sacrifices, such as the sin-offerings and the guilt-offerings that are eaten for one day and night; although the Sages state that they may be eaten only until midnight, by Torah law they may be eaten until dawn. This is in accordance with the verse: “On the day on which it is offered must you eat. Do not leave it until the morning” (Leviticus 7:15). If so, why did the Sages say that they may be eaten only until midnight? This is in order to distance a person from transgression, as if one believes that he has until dawn to perform the mitzva, he might be negligent and postpone it until the opportunity to perform the mitzva has passed.
2
Taanit
Daf Reference 26a:7
(Reference for Genesis 2:2)
Which portions of the Torah would the members of the non-priestly watch read on each day? On Sunday they would read the portions starting with: “In the beginning” and “Let there be a firmament” (Genesis 1:1–8).
On Monday they would read: “Let there be a firmament” and “Let the waters be gathered” (Genesis 1:9–13).
On Tuesday they would read: “Let the waters be gathered” and “Let there be lights” (Genesis 1:14–19).
On Wednesday: “Let there be lights” and “Let the waters swarm” (Genesis 1:20–23).
On Thursday: “Let the waters swarm” and “Let the earth bring forth” (Genesis 1:24–31).
On Friday: “Let the earth bring forth” and “And the heaven and the earth were finished” (Genesis 2:1–3).
3
Sotah
Daf Reference: 9b:1
(Reference for Genesis 3:1)
And, so too, we found with regard to the primeval snake who seduced Eve, for he placed his eyes on that which was unfit for him, as he wanted to marry Eve. Consequently, that which he desired was not given to him, and that which was in his possession was taken from him.
The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I initially said that the snake will be king over every domesticated animal and non-domesticated animal, but now he is cursed more than all the domesticated animals and all the non-domesticated animals of the field, as it is stated:
“And the Lord God said unto the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:14).
Commentaries from our Sages:
01
Ramban on Genesis 4:7:1
(Reference for Genesis 4:7)
IS IT NOT THUS, IF THOU MENDEST ‘SE’EITH’. In the opinion of the commentators, this means there is a “lifting” or forgiveness of your sin. And in the opinion of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra it means a “lifting” of your face in contrast to [the question G-d asked of Cain]: Why is thy face fallen? For he who is ashamed presses his face downward. Similarly, it is said, And the light of my countenance they cast not down, whereas one who honors him is as if he raises his face upward. This is the sense of the verses: Perhaps he will lift my face; Do not lift the face of the poor.
02
Ramban on Genesis 5:2:1
(Reference for Genesis 5:1-2)
5:1
זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם הַבָּנִים אֲשֶׁר יַזְכִּיר בַּפָּרָשָׁה. וּלְפִי דַּעְתִּי יִרְמֹז לְכָל הַתּוֹרָה, כִּי כָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדוֹת אָדָם, עַל כֵּן אָמַר בְּכָאן "סֵפֶר" וְלֹא אָמַר "וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת אָדָם" כַּאֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר בִּשְׁאָר מְקוֹמוֹת (בראשית כ"ה:י"ב) "וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יִשְׁמָעֵאל", "וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יִצְחָק (שם יט)" וְכֵן כֻּלָּן. וְטַעַם "בְּיוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם" נִמְשָׁךְ לְפָנָיו, כִּי יַתְחִיל בְּאָדָם עַצְמוֹ, יַזְכִּיר בּוֹ שֶׁנִּבְרָא מֵאַיִן, וּלְכָךְ אָמַר בְּיוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים מֵאַיִן הָאָדָם הַזֶּה הַנִּזְכָּר, בִּדְמוּת אֱלֹהִים עֲשָׂאוֹ, יְפָרֵשׁ שֶׁהוּא מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים וּבִדְמוּת אֱלֹהִים. וְהִזְכִּיר כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אוֹתוֹ מֵאַיִן כֵּן בָּרָא אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ, וְאָמַר:
THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM. These are the children He will mention in the chapter. In my opinion, this alludes to the entire Torah, for the entire Torah is the book of the generations of Adam. Therefore, He says here “book” and does not say, “And these are the generations of Adam,” as He says in other places, e.g. And these are the generations of Ishmael; And these are the generations of Isaac, and so in all such cases.
5:2
וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם, שֶׁנָּתַן בָּהֶם כֹּחַ תּוֹלָדָה לְהִתְבָּרֵךְ לָעַד בְּבָנִים וּבָנוֹת רַבִּים מְאֹד. וְהַכַּוָּנָה לוֹמַר כִּי הַתּוֹלָדוֹת מִבִּרְכַּת אֱלֹהִים, כִּי הֵם לֹא נוֹלְדוּ אֲבָל נִבְרְאוּ מֵאַיִן וְנִתְבָּרְכוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן:
AND HE BLESSED THEM. This means that He gave them the power of procreation, to be blessed forever with very many sons and daughters. The intent is to state that begetting offspring comes as a blessing of G-d, for Adam and Eve were not born but were created from nothing and they were blessed to do so [to beget offspring].
וְטַעַם וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמָם אָדָם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשֵּׁם אָדָם כְּלָל לְכָל הַמִּין הָאֱנוֹשִׁי, הִזְכִּיר כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים קָרָא הַזּוּג הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּשֵׁם זֶה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכֻּלָּם בָּהֶם בְּכֹחַ, וַעֲלֵיהֶם הוּא אוֹמֵר "זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם". וְכָתַב רַבֵּינוּ שְׁרִירָא הַגָּאוֹן שֶׁמָּסְרוּ חֲכָמִים אֶחָד לַחֲבֵרוֹ הַכָּרַת פָּנִים וְסִדְרֵי שִׂרְטוּטִין, מִקְצָתָן אֲמוּרִים בְּסֵדֶר פָּסוּק "זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם" וּמִקְצָתָן בְּסֵדֶר פָּסוּק שֶׁל אַחֲרָיו "זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בְּרָאָם", וְאֵין מוֹסְרִים סִתְרֵי תּוֹרָה וְרָזִין אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶׁרוֹאִין בּוֹ סִימָנִין שֶׁרָאוּי לְכָךְ. אֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי הַגָּאוֹן, וְלֹא זָכִינוּ בָּהֶם:
AND HE CALLED THEIR NAME ADAM. Since the name Adam (man) is a generic name for the whole human species, Scripture mentions that G-d called the first pair by that name because all generations were potentially in him. It is with reference to them that Scripture says, This is the book of the generations of Adam.
Rabbeinu Sherira Gaon wrote that the Sages transmitted to one another [the principles of knowledge concerning] “the recognition of faces” and the arrangements of the lines in the face. Some of these principles are stated in the order of the words of the verse, This is the book of the generations of Adam, and some in the order of the following verse, Male and female He created them. But the secrets and mysteries of the Torah are transmitted only to those in whom we see signs indicating that he is worthy of it. These are the words of the Gaon, but we have not merited to understand them.
03
Ramban on Genesis 6:3:1
(Reference for Genesis 6:3)
בְּשַׁגַּם הוּא בָּשָׂר כְּמוֹ בְּשֶׁגַּם בְּסֶגוֹל, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על בראשית ו':ג') בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁגַּם זֹאת בּוֹ שֶׁהוּא בָּשָׂר וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אֵינֶנּוּ נִכְנָע מִלְּפָנַי, וּמָה אִם יִהְיֶה אֵשׁ אוֹ דָּבָר קָשֶׁה. וְאֵין בַּפֵּרוּשׁ הַזֶּה טַעַם אוֹ רֵיחַ. וְרַבִּי אַבְרָהָם פֵּרֵשׁ כִּי יֹאמַר לֹא יַעֲמֹד רוּחִי בָּאָדָם לְעוֹלָם בַּעֲבוּר הֶחָמָס הַזֶּה, וְעוֹד בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁהָאָדָם בָּשָׂר וְיַגִּיעַ עַד עֵת וְיֵחָסֵר. וְהִנֵּה הוּא כְּמוֹ גַּם בְּשֶׁהוּא בָּשָׂר. וּמָה צֹרֶךְ לַטַּעֲנָה הַזֹּאת, וְיָדוּעַ כִּי בָּשָׂר הֵמָּה וְנִגְזַר עֲלֵיהֶם הַמִּיתָה, "כִּי עָפָר אַתָּה וְאֶל עָפָר תָּשׁוּב" (בראשית ג':י"ט). וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי כִּי יֹאמַר לֹא יַעֲמֹד רוּחִי בָּאָדָם לְעוֹלָם, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁגַּם הָאָדָם הוּא בָּשָׂר כְּכָל בָּשָׂר הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל הָאָרֶץ בָּעוֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה וּבַחַיָּה, וְאֵינֶנּוּ רָאוּי לִהְיוֹת רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּקִרְבּוֹ. וְהָעִנְיָן לוֹמַר כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם יָשָׁר, לִהְיוֹתוֹ כְּמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת בַּנֶּפֶשׁ שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ, וְהִנֵּה נִמְשַׁךְ אַחֲרֵי הַבָּשָׂר, וּבַתַּאֲווֹת הַגּוּפָנִיּוֹת נִמְשַׁל כַּבְּהֵמוֹת נִדְמוּ, וְלָכֵן לֹא יָדוֹן עוֹד רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּקִרְבּוֹ, כִּי הוּא גּוּפָנִי לֹא אֱלֹהִי, אֲבָל יַאֲרִיךְ לָהֶם אִם יָשׁוּבוּ. וְהִנֵּה זֶה כְּטַעַם "וַיִּזְכֹּר כִּי בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא יָשׁוּב" (תהלים עח לט):
‘BESHAGAM’ (FOR THAT ALSO) HE IS FLESH. It is as if beshagam were written beshegam with a segol under the shin. And Rashi explained: “This quality is also in him, that he is only flesh, and yet he is not humble before Me. What would he do if he were made of fire or some hard substance.” This explanation has neither rhyme nor reason.
Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained that G-d said, “My spirit will not abide in man forever because of this violence and also because man is flesh, and when he reaches a certain age he disintegrates.” Ibn Ezra thus understands the verse as if it said, gam beshehu basar (also because he is flesh). But what need is there for stating this contention when it is known that they were but flesh. and death had been decreed on them, as it says, For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return?
The correct interpretation appears to me to be that G-d said: “My spirit shall not abide in man forever because man also is flesh as all flesh that creepeth upon the earth in the forms of fowl and cattle and beast, and it is not fitting that the spirit of G-d be within him.”
The purport is to state that G-d made man upright to be like the ministering angels by virtue of the soul He gave him. But he was drawn after the flesh and corporeal desires; he is like the beasts that perish, and therefore the spirit of G-d will no longer be sheathed in him for he is corporeal and not godly. However, He will prolong for them [this withdrawal of spirit] if they repent. The sense of this verse is thus similar to [the verse in Psalm 78]: So He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.