October 28, 2003

Parsha Keywords - Bereshis

I'm starting a new feature today on Presence. I call it Parsha Keywords. What I am going to do is simply make a list of words from the weekly parsha that I feel are important. The list is based on my feeling as to the general theme of the parsha, and which words are important towards understanding and discerning the theme from the general narrative. I am not going to post my interpretation, at least not in the same post. If you would like to try and weave a thread between the various words, feel free to leave your depiction in the comments.

So without further ado, let's begin at the beginning. Last week we read Parshas Beresheis (Gen. 1:1-6:8). I'll list the word in transliterated Hebrew, followed by a basic English translation. Knowing the Hebrew is of unestimable importance; in fact, I might go so far as to say that it is impossible to properly study the Torah in any other language.


  • Elohim (God)

  • Ruach (spirit)

  • Tov (good)

  • Zachor (male)

  • Nekava (female)

  • Oved (work)

  • Adama (earth, as in dirt)

  • A-dam (man, Adam)

  • Chaim (life)

  • Gan Eden (Garden of Eden)

  • Basar (flesh)

  • Isha (woman)

  • Ish (man)

  • Da'as (knowledge), Yodei (knowing)

  • Ra (evil)

  • Meis (die, death, and all derivatives)

One final note (more relevant to next week): Noach (Nun-Chet) is Chen (Chet-Nun) backwards.

Enjoy!

Posted by Greg at October 28, 2003 12:48 PM
Comments

have you been following any frameworks?

the chen theme will be more than exhausted there for you. ... even more so in the Chanukah Patterns in Time. If you don't have it, I can lend it to you.

kudos! looking forward to reading some insightful commentary on the parsha from two of my good friends' husbands!!!

Posted by: Tobey at November 7, 2003 10:32 AM

Thanks! I read Frameworks/Patterns a few years ago, I'm trying to do my own thing, although I would say my methodology has been heavily influenced by him.

I still need to do the writeup for Bereshis - hopefully next week!

Posted by: Greg at November 7, 2003 1:25 PM

Guys:
It's 11PM here and I was flipping thru Tobey's blog for the first time in MONTHS -- don't know exactly how these things work, do you have to check this to know that I'm posting or are you notified somehow? Greg, I'm also fascinated by how language is manipulated and played upon in Tanach -- and how THEMES resurface and develop. I'm now exploring how places in Tanach develop characters and...essences, and how the language used to discuss those places reflects the essence of the place. May I suggest, if you can get ahold of a copy, CHEN MAKOM by Aryeh Hendler...More about this later...I don't have time to get to your other posts on this site but iy"H I'll find some time in the coming days or weeks. Geez, it's good to read you, Tobey. Greg, send my love on to Penina
Tamar (Lasson) Weissman
p.s. Tobey -- I read patterns in time Rosh Hashana a half dozen times, cover to cover mamash, bef. Rosh Hashana and then had to call Rav Matis to explain certain aspects to me. He was very gracious. I thought of you and wished you were here

Posted by: tamar at November 9, 2003 4:15 PM