We find that the Torah tells us in Chapter 13:2, “And Abraham was very rich in cattle and silver and in gold. And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-El unto the place where his tent had been in the beginning, between Beth-El and Ai.” Rashi, the greatest of all commentators, explains in one of his interpretations that “and he went on his journeys” means he actually paid his debts.

In the portion of the week we read about the ark that had to be built by Noach. After seeing what happened to the generation at that time, G-d decided to destroy the world and everything in it except for Noach, who was a tzaddik. G-d commanded Noach to build an ark in which he would bring his family and all the living species on earth and they would be spared.

Toward the end of this week’s portion we read that Cain had relations with his wife and she gave birth to a son by the name of Chanoch.  Then the Torah goes on to say, “and he built a city and he called the name of the city as the name of his son, Chanoch.” (Chap. 4:17)

The Torah tells us in the portion of this week that after Abraham saw he couldn’t have any children with Sara, Sara gave him her handmaiden, Hagar, who subsequently conceived from Abraham. When she became pregnant, the atmosphere in the home became very strained and Sara decided to drive her handmaiden out of the house. Hagar fled from the house of Abraham.

In the portion of this week we read, Chap. 14:14, “And when Abraham heard that his brother had been taken captive, he let out all those who had been born in his house and educated by him… and he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them and perused them unto Hoba…and he brought back all that had been carried off. He also brought back Lot, his brother and his goods as well as the women and the people.”

Faith in the Tree of Life

In the very beginning of this week’s portion, we read about Abraham sitting at the entrance of his home waiting for wayfarers to come by so that he may invite them into his house to feed them. This is the third day after his circumcision and, as after any operation, it is the most painful day. Abraham suffers great pain and G-d, not wanting to disturb him because of his pain, decides to make the day burning hot so that there would not be any wayfarers or travelers to bother him. However, G-d Himself comes to visit Abraham to see how he is doing. Three men appear before him. Abraham, seeing these men, (who are actually angels) runs to greet them and invites them into his home. He then says to them, “Please let there be fetched a little water and wash your feet and recline yourselves under the tree.”

This Shabbos is called Shabbos Bereishis because we begin to read the Torah, which begins with the Sidra of Bereishis.  This is actually a continuation of that which began on Simchas Torah, namely, the completion of reading the Torah and the immediate commencement of reading it anew.  The reason for this is, of course, to tell us that there is never an end to Torah.  If a person feels he ahs already completed Torah he must understand that he has only scratched the surface.  He must start at the beginning all over again because there is so much more he has to learn.  Shabbos Bereishis, therefore, sets the pace for the coming year and our involvement in Torah begins once again.