Let’s Create Anew (Simchat Torah Edition)

Back to the beginning – a new year, a new start to reading the Torah – even a new president, new members of congress, new local officials coming soon. New things to anticipate, fear, embrace, engage. New things to create – new ideas, projects, art, relationships. New things to go wrong – apologies to make, defenses to break down, sin to avoid. A new chance to learn about G!d and become closer to him.

G!d speaks light into darkness, creation into emptiness, relationships into solitary existence. G!d provides challenges, opportunities, growth. G!d calls for us, reaches out to us, chastises us, asks for our best. G!d is present – a new cycle, a new chance to get to know him, and to get to know ourselves.

Adam and Eve: Prototypical humans? Our ancestors? Allegorical? Their story remains the same – the world in which we live is complex, our relationship to the world is complex and drives us to a relationship with our creator.

Cain and Abel: Brothers. Competitors. Worshippers. We still act like Cain and Abel sometimes – hoping to be a better worshipper than someone else, instead of combining our efforts and each growing in our relationship with G!d. Cain and Abel could have achieved something totally different together with their offerings, just as we can when we support each other and join in prayer.

Bereshit is the beginning. We can go anywhere. Our world can go anywhere. Let’s create something pleasing to G!d this year.

Simchat Torah was SO MUCH FUN. We danced with joy to familiar melodies, remembering what we have inherited as G!d’s people. And now – to read it again!