We usually refer to this parsha as "In the Beginning..." Another way of stating the ideas is "at first." The Torah tells us the order that G-d creates our world but we never learn how it is done. This is as it should be as humans cannot understand all that G-d does and the method by which it is done. The main creation occurs on the seventh day - the Sabbath.

The parsha continues with Adam and Eve's experiences and their sons Cain and Abel. Humankind's wickedness then drives G-d to call on Noah.

Gleanings:

1. G-d's creation is a blessing and we are responsible for it.
2. We must learn to take responsibility for our actions.

As we rush through Genesis and miss so many aspects of the Adam and Eve saga, we move right into the story of the evil of the world. G-d is quite perturbed and angry at the way humankind and everything else has turned out and wants to destroy everything on earth. G-d decides not to destroy everything but to save some life and start all over from there. Among the people, G-d found Noah, the most righteous person of his time. G-d commanded Noah to take two of every non-kosher and seven of every kosher animal. Noah built an ark of gopher wood to house his family and the animals. The waters came and caused the great Flood of the ancient world. When it was over, the rainbow was a new covenant between G-d and the earth not to destroy it again by flood.

Skipping past some other revealing information about Noah's character, we move to the Tower of Babel. Here the people on earth decided to build a huge edifice to attempt to reach heaven. They valued a brick more than human life which frustrated G-d. Thus, to force people to deal with each other in a different way, G-d gave them varied languages.

Gleanings:

1. Righteousness might be depending upon the society you live in.
2. Human life is the top priority to G-d and should be to people.

The story of the Jewish people begins here when we are introduced to Abram, who is told by G-d: "Lech-Lecha - go forth from your native land and from your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you." The journey begins with Abram, his wife, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot. They are going towards the land of Canaan (even though he doesn't know it). When they reach the land, G-d tells Abram that this is the land that will be given to his descendants.

G-d establishes a covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham, which means 'father of a multitude.' G-d also changes Sarai's name to Sarah, which means 'princess', and states: "I will give you a son by her ... Rulers of peoples shall issue from her."

Gleanings:

1. Leadership is a demanding position.
2. Even our forefathers are imperfect people but still can overcome hardships to become great leaders.
3. Honesty is always the best policy.

In the last portion, Abraham circumcised himself at the age of 99. I sure hope he had a steady hand. Anyway, as he is sitting outside his tent recuperating, he spies three men coming up the road. He welcomes the men with generous hospitality, forgetting his soreness. This action tells us that welcoming the stranger is of paramount importance. Remember, we were once strangers in the land of Egypt.

This portion has many important activities that remind us about being human and dedicated to G-d. After the three men tell Sarah and Abraham that they will have a child (at which Sarah laughs) the men depart for the city of Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah have returned to the decadence of Noah's time, prompting G-d to want to destroy them. Abraham petitions Hashem to spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous men. The bargaining continues down to ten. Alas, there are not even ten righteous men in the cities and they are consumed with flame.

Continuing his journey, Abraham comes to the kingdom of Abimelech. Fearing they will kill him and take the beautiful Sarah from him if she was known to be his wife, Abraham lies and says she is her sister. The King does take Sarah for a wife and Hashem appears to him with the truth. He kicks Abraham out of the land for his lie.

At this time, G-d has granted that Abraham has a son, Ishmael, with Hagar. With Sarah, Abraham also has a son, Isaac. Jealousy raises its ugly head and Sarah demands that Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael from their home. In the desert, G-d tells Hagar that Ishmael will give rise to a great nation. Abraham is told the same thing about Isaac.

Finally, G-d gives Abraham the final, most serious test. G-d commands Abraham to go with Isaac to Mount Moriah for a sacrifice. Abraham never says a word and proceeds to go with Isaac for this purpose. G-d saves Isaac and substitutes a ram as the sacrifice. Hashem has tested Abraham and, as we know today, he has passed.

Gleanings:

1. We can petition G-d to change his intentions.
2. G-d can make miracles happen as he did with the birth of Isaac.
3. Welcoming people to your house is a major mitzvah.
4. Lying, for whatever reason, is wrong.
5. Don't be jealous.
6. Stand up for the stranger as well as for your own.

This parsha brings us to the end of Abraham's journey and life. It is entitled "Sarah's lifetime," even though it tells us of her death. Abraham, grieving at his wife's death, seeks to find a suitable resting place. He is offered a cave at no cost but insists on paying for it and pays top dollar. We learn here how to honor the dead by remembering their lives and their meaning to us. We honor the dead by ensuring that they have a decent burial. As we treat our loved ones in death, we should treat ourselves in life - with respect.

Next, Abraham wants to find a wife for Isaac. He sends his servant to Haran to find a woman worthy of his son. The servant travels to that land and stops by a well where women are drawing water. He states to himself that the woman for Isaac is one that will offer water both for himself and for his camels. Rebecca does exactly so, and in the end she returns with the servant to Abraham's home to marry Isaac.

Gleanings:

1. Mourn your dead but only for the allotted time.
2. Honor your dead with the proper respect.
3. Find a mate who has not only outside beauty but is beautiful on the inside.
4. Pay the value of something you purchase.

Twenty years have passed and Rebecca has been unable to bear children. Isaac implores G-d to help [sounds familiar]. G-d helps and Rebecca gives birth to fraternal twins - Esau and Jacob. Esau is a rugged outdoors type who is favored by Isaac, while Jacob is a quiet type who is favored by Rebecca. The Torah tells us about their relationship and of the birthright ceding from Esau to Jacob. [Oh, what webs we weave when first scheming to deceive.] To make a long story short, the boys become embittered and are pitted against each other. Jacob also steals the blessing of the eldest by impersonating Esau to his father in his dotage.

After Jacob deceives Isaac for his blessing, Esau vows to kill his brother. Rebecca sends Jacob to Laban, her brother, to find a wife and to protect his life. This brotherly "love" is a continuing theme throughout Genesis and attempts to teach us much about family relationships - parenting, sibling rivalries, etc.

Gleanings:

1. Jealousy is an ugly, destructive emotion for everyone involved.
2. Favoritism by parents to one child over another leads to severe problems.
3. What goes around comes around. E.g., Jacob being duped by Laban in the marriage of his daughters.
4. Intermarriage poses a threat to the survival of the Jewish people and its faith.

Vayetsei means "and he went out." It tells the story of Jacob leaving from Beer-sheba to Rebecca's birthplace, Haran. On his first night on the road, Jacob has a dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and is told by G-d that his descendants will be blessed and that they will inherit the land already promised to Abraham and Isaac.

After a long journey, he arrives in Haran and is met by Laban, Rebecca's brother, and his daughters Leah and Rachel. Jacob wants to marry Rachel and is told that he can, but first he must work for seven years for Laban. After the seven long years, the marriage takes place and Jacob is deceived by Laban who gives him Leah. Jacob protests but Laban says, "Too bad." However, if Jacob will work another seven years he can also have Rachel. Jacob works another seven years for the right to marry Rachel. With two wives and their maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah, he has twelve sons.

Jacob decides to return to his homeland. He gets payment from Laban by receiving half of his sheep and goats. Jacob's animals reproduce nicely which upsets Laban to no end. Jacob slips out of town one night heading home. Laban pursues him and when they meet up they reconcile their differences peaceably.

Gleanings:

1. When you deceive others, you too can be deceived.
2. G-d is with you in many ways.
3. Amicably resolve all of your differences.

The years have passed and Jacob sends messengers to his brother Esau after twenty years of separation. Jacob is quite nervous about this meeting as Esau had threatened to kill him. Jacob splits his camp to protect his wives and children from the impending meeting. The night before the meeting, Jacob wrestles with a "man." The "match" lasts all night and Jacob continues to wrestle until dawn with the "man," who is actually a representative of G-d. Before letting go, the angel changes Jacob's name to Israel, which means "he who wrestles with G-d." The angel injures Jacob's thigh, which is why we don't eat that part of an animal's body to this day.

This portion also has a section that is not studied very often. The daughter of Jacob and Leah, Dinah, is raped in Shechem. To avenge their sister, Jacob's sons slaughter all the males of Shechem after having them circumcise themselves. Jacob is incensed by his sons' behavior.

At the end of this portion, Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. Isaac dies and is buried in Hebron near his parents.

Gleanings:

1. Reconcile with family members before too much time passes.
2. Jews are allowed to question G-d.
3. Revenge might be sweet but it is not the correct behavior.

Jacob and his sons have settled in the land of Canaan. This is significant as it seems as if the wanderings of Jacob have ended and he is now in the land promised by G-d to Abraham. Trouble brews between Joseph and his brothers, as Joseph has dreams that rile his siblings when he tells them what they are. On top of that, Jacob treats Joseph as his favorite and gives him a "coat of many colors." The favoritism and dreams lead to Joseph's brothers plotting to get rid of him. Instead of killing him outright, they sell him to a caravan of traders. They then tell Jacob that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal.

Joseph ends up in Egypt in prison through no fault of his own. In jail, he interprets the dreams of some of his cellmates, the Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. Joseph's interpretations of their dreams come true. Later, this will be critical to the story.

Gleanings:

1. Parents should not favor one child over another
2. People should not hold themselves more important than others.
3. Dream interpretation is not just a Freudian approach.

Mikets means "at the end of..." The story of Joseph continues in Egypt. The Pharaoh has two dreams that his advisors are unable to interpret. Remembering Joseph, the cupbearer tells Pharoah about him. Joseph is brought from prison to the court of the Pharaoh, who relates his dreams of the seven fat and seven skinny cows. Joseph interprets them as seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh is so impressed that he appoints Joseph in charge of the entire land.

In seven years' time the famine arrives as Joseph foretold. It also reaches Canaan and affects Jacob and his family. Jacob sends his sons to Egypt. Joseph recognizes his brothers but they fail to recognize him. Joseph does not reveal himself. Joseph tests the brothers by setting up a scheme. He requires them to bring Benjamin to him. Then Joseph plants his silver goblet in Benjamin's sack. Joseph informs his brothers that he will free them but will keep Benjamin as a slave.

Gleanings:

1. Keep your faith when things seem most dreadful.
2. Learn how to use your resources to allow them to last.
3. What you sow, your shall reap.

Vayigash means "and he approached him." Judah confronts Joseph, whose real identity remains unknown to Judah. He states emphatically that if Benjamin should not return with them to Canaan then their father Jacob would surely die. Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin. Hearing this, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. He then instructs them to bring Jacob and all his family to Egypt and to settle in Goshen. Joseph is responsible to for the distribution of food during the famine, and assures his brothers that he will take care of them. Pharaoh is also generous in his greetings to Joseph's family.

Meanwhile, Jacob and his family are being fruitful and multiplying in the land of Goshen.

Gleanings:

1. Atonement is possible.
2. Forgiveness is possible.

With the last years of Jacob's life the Book of Genesis comes to a close. Jacob has lived in Egypt for seventeen years. Before he dies, he beckons his son Joseph and grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to his bedside for a blessing. The blessing upon Manasseh and Ephraim is given to the sons of Jews every Sabbath still today.

Jacob dies and is buried in Hebron. After his death, Joseph's brothers are afraid that retribution is now at hand. However, Joseph assures them that they will live in peace and he will continue to provide for them. Joseph lives to 110. Before his death, he assures his family that G-d will return them to the Land of Israel and asks them to take his bones there when they go.

Gleanings:

1. Blessings go to the deserving.
2. Joseph at his death is still seeing the future.