Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, Seaside Jewish Community
Here are a few of my favorite themes and lessons from the book of Genesis. Chapter one of Genesis has one of the most important concepts in the Torah, that humanity is created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26). In ancient times, monarchs were seen as the image or likeness of a deity, but the Torah recognizes the divine image in everyone. (Etz Hayim Torah commentary). This concept was pretty radical for its time, and indeed, for our own time. No matter a person’s status or abilities, each one contains the divine image and is deserving of dignity and respect. To harm any person is to diminish the divine image on earth.
To drive this concept home, chapter two of Genesis describes the creation of the first human, Adam, from the earth. One beautiful Midrash tells how Adam was made from all different colors of earth from around the world, to show that all races and places are equally worthy. The Mishnah (Sanhedrin 4) declares that our shared ancestry ensures that no one can brag of their lineage, since ultimately, we are all related. Furthermore, humanity was created as one to teach us that saving one life is like saving a world. Taken together, these first chapters of Genesis focus on the value and dignity of each person—and as Rabbi David Seidenberg writes in his book Kabbalah and Ecology, of each and every non-human creature on the planet.
As we progress through the book of Genesis, our ancestors turn out to be inspired but imperfect human beings, which makes their hard-earned lessons relevant to us. One of the central stories in the book of Genesis (chapter 32) is the mysterious night episode of Jacob’s struggle with an angel. Jacob emerges triumphant yet wounded and receives the new name of “Israel.” Like our ancestor, we too can grow from the dark times and struggles of life.
Genesis ends with the saga of Joseph. In Genesis 45, Joseph is able to forgive his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years before. He has eventually risen to prominence and power, but they have grown, too, especially his brother Judah. Joseph can see their repentance and can recognize the bigger picture and the divine plan in his struggles and suffering.
While the families of Genesis have their share of jealousy, competition, and disfunction, ultimately, they show us that struggles can lead to growth and that forgiveness and reconciliation are possible when we appreciate the divinity in ourselves and everyone we meet.
Rabbi Peter H. Grumbacher, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Beth Emeth
Of course, creation leads the pack, not only the creation of the world, but the creation of our People, as well. The former has been the source of controversy; was it as stated in the Torah or was it something like the Big Bang? Well, there are two creation stories in the Torah, the first two chapters of the Book, and neither one is even close to the other, let alone the Big Bang theory. But be that as it may, this month’s question is focused on themes, not theories. We’ll leave the theories alone right now; the themes are powerful and teach us something.
There is order in the universe.
We were created in God’s image, but the wickedness of humans leads God to send a flood.
With the story of Cain and Abel we learn even families have their own drama, and virtually every nuclear and extended family in all of Genesis proves it to the nth degree. And to me, this is also a theme that emanates from that fact, namely, even our ancestors are far from perfection. If we have tzadikim (righteous people) that we venerate, they remain behind the curtain until Moses . . . and even Moses wasn’t perfect!
But that doesn’t mean that we should eliminate learning about our ancestors, but you knew that already. Without the vision of Abraham (nudged by God, of course), where would we be? Perhaps worshipping deities if no other ahah! moment had come along.
Another theme, subtle as it is, happens to be the evolution of our God idea. Historically, we know that the territorial God of Israel became a universal God; with the exile to Babylonia our only other choice was to worship their deities. Thus, we creatively manipulated our theology. But in the earliest narrative of the Abraham cycle, we know that the God he called his own sent him from his native land “to a land that I will show you.” Thus, even then we weren’t stuck with national borders for monotheism to take hold.
Perhaps the most important theme—though they are all important—is the notion of the brit/covenant. Our relationship with God was like a contract. The rainbow was the symbol of the one established with Noah and circumcision was the most important at the time. Throughout our history the brit was renewed. My question is: what, if anything, is its role today?
Best wishes to you and yours for a healthy and joyful New Year, and for peace throughout the world!
