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.

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.

There is one important thing to remember. Torah was given to all the Jews. No one has a mortgage on Torah. No one has a claim to Torah more than another and certainly no one ahs the right to discard anyone else’s share in Torah. On the holiday of Simchas Torah we sing, “Moses rejoiced in Simchas Torah; Abraham rejoiced in Simchas Torah and David rejoiced in Simchas Torah” and so on. Their joy and celebration did not pertain to them personally, but was due to the fact that Torah was given to all of Israel to brighten the lives of the people in all generations and at all times.

This can be understood when we review the words of the Mechilta. We are told that when G-d recited the first commandment “I am the L-rd thy G-d,” there was a lot of commotion and movement amongst the mountains and the valleys. We are told that the two mountains Tovor and Carmel came and each one said, “I was called.” These tremendously high mountains are the symbol of the giants of Torah, the people with sharp brains, the deep thinkers, great philosophers and men of great wisdom. They had a quarrel amongst themselves. Each one said that Torah was only given to a very select group of people – to those who had a deep understanding and proper perception of that which Torah tells us. However, the simple people, those who are busy with making a living and are involved in the everyday, mundane things of life, don’t have the proper preparation to delve into the depths of Torah, and therefore, having very little to do with Torah, have a very small part and share in Torah. Torah was given to the great people of the generation, the great minds and not to anyone else. However, the Mechilta tells us that when they heard G-d direct the statement “I have taken you out of the land of Egypt” to those multitudes of people who carried the yoke of Egypt on their shoulders, working with mortar and brick and doing difficult, heavy work in the fields, who became candidates to receive the Torah, and became a nation only upon being freed and leaving Egypt, these great people realized that not to them alone was the Torah given but to every person in Israel. That is why the Mechilta continues that each one immediately stood in his place and said that they were no different than anyone else who left Egypt and were the recipients of Torah. There were only part of the multitude.

What a great and beautiful lesson this is to each and every one of use in this day and age. We must remember that Torah had been given to everyone and we all have a share in Torah. We must find time to study Torah and we must be involved in Torah. We cannot leave Torah just for a select few, for this was certainly not the idea of A-mighty G-d. The A-mighty wanted us to give the Torah to “those who left Egypt” meaning everybody and not only a certain few.

We all have the ability to learn Torah, to understand Torah, to know Torah, and of course, to fulfill the commandments and mitzvos of the Torah. We must take time out to acquaint ourselves with the Torah and become B’nai Torah, people who live with and by Torah, and be proud of the fact that we are fulfilling the wishes of G-d when He gave His Torah to the people of Israel.

Although the actual holiday of the giving of the Torah comes out on Shevuos, since we begin reading the Torah once again on Shabbos Bereishis, it is the time for us to make our resolutions that in the coming year, every single day of the week and every week of the month and every month of the year, we will study Torah – at least a little time in the morning and a little time in the evening. If you cannot attend a shiur in the synagogue or adult classes, at least make it your business to have the proper books at home, in any language you can understand, and study and acquaint yourself with Torah. Should you have any questions ask your Rabbi or another learned scholar. He will be very happy to answer your questions. In this way, you will learn Torah and become a Ben Torah.

It is also important to remember that on the holiday of Simchas Torah we make Hakofos. This means that we take the Sefer Torah in our arms and circle the synagogue seven times. After reciting various verses each time around, we bring back the Torah s to the Aron Kodesh, to the Holy Ark, where the Torah has its steady resting place.

It seems to me that these Hakofos are the symbol of the Jew who has always wandered through all parts of the world, but always took his Torah with him. When he went to Babylonia he took his Torah with him and from there came forth the Talmud; he went to Rome and there he opened centers of learning where many great, wise Torah scholars sat and spread the light of Torah to the outside world; he went to Spain which then became a center of Torah; he went to France and from there came forth Rashi and his grandchildren, the Baalei Tosfos, and so on; he went to Germany and from there came forth the Baalei Tosfos, the Maharam of Rottenberg and others; he went to Poland with his Torah and from there came forth the Ramaw, the Maharil, the Maharshaw, the Shach, the Taz and others. After all the wanderings, we lift our eyes to Zion and proclaim, “From Zion shall come forth Torah and the word of G-d from Jerusalem.” We have come to America and have brought the Torah with us here. Today, America is considered the greatest center of Torah in the world, with the exception of Israel. Let us replace those great people whom we lost in the Holocaust by taking a part in Torah, by studying and learning Torah and by upholding and fulfilling the mitzvos of the Torah.