Difference between revisions of "User:RobertC/Creation"
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(1) ''Look forward not backward'': The midrash teaches that the letter ''bet'' is enclosed on three sides, but open to the front, suggesting the need to look forward, not backward. Since ''bet'' is the second letter, there is an implicit emphasis on "second chances". | (1) ''Look forward not backward'': The midrash teaches that the letter ''bet'' is enclosed on three sides, but open to the front, suggesting the need to look forward, not backward. Since ''bet'' is the second letter, there is an implicit emphasis on "second chances". | ||
| − | (2) '' | + | (2) ''The second shall be first'': Putting the second letter first presages a recurrent theme in Genesis where second sons (Jacob, Joseph and Ephraim in particular; also, Christ comes from Tamar's second twin son) receive the birthright instead of the first son. Also, the Hebrew word for curse starts with ''aleph'' while the Hebrew word for blessing begins with ''bet''. Some have suggested that the implicit teaching here is that a me-first attitude leads to a cursed life, while an others-first attitude leads to a blessed life. That is, by letting the second letter be first the Torah is teaching that we should place others' interests ahead of our own (cf. the oft-repeated scriptural phrase "the last shall be first and the first shall be last"). |
(3) ''This is not the literal beginning'': By using the second letter, the Torah may be saying that this is not the very first beginning, but the beginning that is relevant for us to try to understand. Symbolically, it is important that we keep striving to understand more, without falling prey to pride thinking we understand all that we need to understand about the beginning. There are mysteries that lie hidden (''aleph'' is considered a silent letter) beyond what is written or spoken (''bet'' is a voiced letter) that we should continually strive to understand. | (3) ''This is not the literal beginning'': By using the second letter, the Torah may be saying that this is not the very first beginning, but the beginning that is relevant for us to try to understand. Symbolically, it is important that we keep striving to understand more, without falling prey to pride thinking we understand all that we need to understand about the beginning. There are mysteries that lie hidden (''aleph'' is considered a silent letter) beyond what is written or spoken (''bet'' is a voiced letter) that we should continually strive to understand. | ||
Revision as of 10:15, 25 March 2006
Bet before aleph
Jewish scholars have put forth various reasons as to why the first word of the Torah, bereshit, begins with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, bet, instead of the first letter, aleph. Some of the reasons, which are not mutually exclusive, include:
(1) Look forward not backward: The midrash teaches that the letter bet is enclosed on three sides, but open to the front, suggesting the need to look forward, not backward. Since bet is the second letter, there is an implicit emphasis on "second chances".
(2) The second shall be first: Putting the second letter first presages a recurrent theme in Genesis where second sons (Jacob, Joseph and Ephraim in particular; also, Christ comes from Tamar's second twin son) receive the birthright instead of the first son. Also, the Hebrew word for curse starts with aleph while the Hebrew word for blessing begins with bet. Some have suggested that the implicit teaching here is that a me-first attitude leads to a cursed life, while an others-first attitude leads to a blessed life. That is, by letting the second letter be first the Torah is teaching that we should place others' interests ahead of our own (cf. the oft-repeated scriptural phrase "the last shall be first and the first shall be last").
(3) This is not the literal beginning: By using the second letter, the Torah may be saying that this is not the very first beginning, but the beginning that is relevant for us to try to understand. Symbolically, it is important that we keep striving to understand more, without falling prey to pride thinking we understand all that we need to understand about the beginning. There are mysteries that lie hidden (aleph is considered a silent letter) beyond what is written or spoken (bet is a voiced letter) that we should continually strive to understand.
Related links
- Bet before aleph: Reason (1) has been written about by Rabbi Berzon here and Susan Robertson here. Reason (2) has been written about by Rabbi Berzon here, and reason (3) has been written about by Rabbi Berzon here. A picture and theological discussion of the letter bet can be viewed here.
