B"H 

 

 

 

BERAISHIS

 

TALMUDIC SOURCES

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What Precedes the Creation of the Universe

 

Before creating the universe, Hashem brought into existence seven concepts which are essential for the functioning of the world:

 

1. Torah

2. teshuva (return)

3. Gan Eden (Paradise)

4. Gehinnom (Hell)

5. The Kisay Hakavod (The Heavenly Throne of Glory)

6. The Bais Hamikdash (The Holy Temple)

7. The name of Mashiach.

 

We will now explain in which way these seven particular creations are vital to mankind and therefore had to be conceived even prior to Creation.

 

[]  The world was created solely for the purpose of learning Torah and fulfilling its dictates.

 

[]  Teshuva was conceived in order to maintain existence. A world without teshuva would inevitably perish in the face of Hashem's judgment.

 

[]  Gan Eden was conceived in order to insure a reward for the righteous.

 

[]  Gehinnom was conceived in order to provide punishment for the wicked.

 

[]  The Heavenly Throne of Glory was conceived prior to the universe in order to manifest Hashem's glory in the world.

 

[]  The place where the Shechina (Divine Spirit) was to dwell permanently is the Bais Hamikdash. Therefore, the concept of the Bais Hamikdash was conceived as a condition for creation.

 

[]  The final goal of humanity is to attain the state of the days of Mashiach; therefore the name of Mashiach had to be formulated even before the world's inception.

 

 

Torah, the Blueprint of the World 

 

Torah was the first of these seven fundamental concepts. It preceded the creation of the world by two thousand years. Why was this necessary?

 

The Torah says, "I served as the architect's instrument in building the world!"

 

If a builder erects a house without consulting an architect, how will the end product look? He might find his building lacking necessary doors, windows, or staircases. He might have misconstructed a basic support beam so that the entire house will collapse shortly after completion. Every building must therefore be preceded by a plan. The first step towards construction is for the architect to draw up a complete map of the house, including each of its divisions, entrances, and exits. Then the builder follows the construction plan, transferring it into actuality.

 

            By which diagram was the world built?

 

The Torah says. "I was Hashem's master plan in the construction of the world! Hashem had me in front of Him during the Six Days of Creation. He looked at the passuk (verse) (1:1), “In the beginning G-d created heaven and earth,” and, accordingly, created heaven and earth. He looked at the words (1:3), “'and G-d said, 'Let there be light'”, and fulfilled the words by creating light, etc." Thus He followed the words of the Torah step by step throughout creation, fashioning the universe according to the plan of Torah.

 

 

Reality of the Creator

 

The emperor Hadrian asked R. Yehoshua, "Does the world have a master?"

 

"Certainly," replied R. Yehoshua. "Did you think the world exists without an owner?"

   

 "Who then is its master?"

   

 "Hashem is the Creator of heaven and earth."

   

 But Hadrian persisted. "If this is true," he continued, "why doesn't He reveal Himself a few times a year so that people should fear Him?"

    

"That would be impossible," replied R. Yehoshua, "for it says (Sh'mos 33:20), 'No man can see Me and live.' "

    

"I don't believe that," argued Hadrian angrily. "No one can be so great that it is impossible even to look at him!"

   

 R. Yehoshua left.

   

 Later, at noontime, he returned and asked the Emperor to step outside. "I am ready to show you Hashem!" He announced.

    

Curious, Hadrian followed him to the palace garden.

    

"Look straight up into the sun. There you will discover Hashem!" said R. Yehoshua.

   

 "What?" exclaimed Hadrian, bewildered. "Do you know what you are saying? Everyone knows that it is impossible to look directly into the sun at noon!"

    

R. Yehushua smiled. "Note your own statement! You admit that no one can gaze at the sun's full strength when it is at its zenith. Yet the sun is only one of Hashem's servants, and its glory is only one millionth of a fraction of Hashem's splendor. How then do you expect people to be able to look at Him? Yet He promised that the day will come when He alone will be exalted and His greatness will be accepted by all"

 

 

An apikoras once asked R. Akiva, "Who created the world?"

"Hashem," replied R. Akiva.

"Prove it," demanded the apikoras.

R. Akiva answered only, "Come back tomorrow."

            When the man returned on the following day, R. Akiva asked him "What

            are you wearing?"

"A robe."

"Who made it?"

"The weaver."

"I don't believe you! Prove it," demanded R. Akiva.

"That is ridiculous. Can't you tell from the fabric and design that a weaver made this  

 garment?"    

 said the man.

"And you -can you not clearly tell that Hashem made the world?"

After the Apicoras left R. Akiva explained to his students, "Just as a house was obviously built by a builder and a garment obviously sewn by a tailor, so was the world (which follows a natural order) obviously made by a Creator!"

 

[Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says, The Book of Beraishis, p.1-4