Bereshit: Parasha & Haftara
Summary of the Parasha
Parashat Bereshit recounts the “six days” of the creation of the world:
- Day 1: Creation of (spiritual) light and separation from darkness.
- Day 2: Separation of the waters and formation of the sky.
- Day 3: Separation of the waters and emergence of dry land, creation of vegetation.
- Day 4: Creation of the celestial bodies (sun, moon, and stars).
- Day 5: Creation of marine creatures and birds.
- Day 6: Creation of land animals and Man (Adam and Eve), in the image of God.
- Day 7: God “rests” (ceases creating) and sanctifies the Shabbat.
Adam and Eve are placed in the Garden of Eden with the instruction not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Deceived by the “serpent”, they disobey and are expelled from the garden, bringing about mortality and human labor.
The following generations witness the first murder in history, when Cain kills his brother Abel. The Parasha ends with the list of the ten generations from Adam to Noah and announces the corruption of humanity, leading to the Flood.
Summary of the Haftara
The Haftara is found in the Book of Isaiah (Yeshaya), covering the period of 3140-3228 (or -620/-532), which is about 700 years after the Exodus from Egypt and 200 years after King David.
In this prophecy, God reminds that He is the unique Creator of the world, that He formed the universe with wisdom and that there is no other god. He urges Israel to recognize His sovereignty and reject idolatry. The Haftara ends with a promise of deliverance and restoration for the Jewish people.
Parasha-Haftara Connection
The Parasha recounts the creation of the world, affirming that God is the sole master of the universe. The Haftara echoes this theme to remind that, despite the trials of history, God remains the only Creator and the only Savior. This connection is essential to understand that human history and Jewish history are part of a divine plan.