5787/2026
BeReishit starts off with creation, yet, just a few columns into the Torah, we are dealing with a complete and utter destruction of the world as we knew it.
The vast population stemming from Adam HaRishon is diminished to Noach and his family. For forty days and forty nights, the world is filled with boiling water, and after the water recedes, Noach is left with a blank slate. Noach's family’s job is to restart the process of creation alongside Hashem, to create a lineage to occupy the vast world. Thus, starting the ninth Perek of the Torah (9:1) is the blessing of “Pru U’Revu”, “To be fruitful and multiply”. Noach is given this blessing to help start over the world, to fill the world with his progeny, and theirs, and so forth. Interestingly, a near six Pesukim later, the Beracha is repeated (9:7). Radak in his exegesis on the Torah (s.v. ‘V’Atem Pru U’Revu’ ad loc), writes that the first time it is said (9:1) it is said as a Beracha, and the second time (9:7), it is stated as a Mitzvat Asei. Not only are we blessed to procreate and fill the world with our descendants, we are even charged with the obligation to do so.
Rav Jonathan Sacks ZT”L wrote in Faith in the Future (Part 28) God, taught Rabi Akiva, left the world unfinished so that it could be completed by the work of man. Industry is more than mere labour. It is the arena of human creativity, “perfecting the world under the sovereignty of God.” It is our duty in this world to be partners with Hashem in creating the world. Rabi Nachman of Breslov writes in the Likutey Moharan (5:1), “Ki Tzarich Kol Adam Lomar: Kol HaOlam Lo Nivra Ela Bishvili,” “Each person must say, ‘The entire world was created only for my sake’” (see Sanhedrin 37a). He explains that because the world was created for each person’s sake, each person must constantly seek to improve the world, address its shortcomings, and pray on its behalf. Consequently, because the world was created for my sake, I must constantly look into and consider ways of making the world better; to provide what is missing in the world and pray on its behalf.” We have a job in this world, a Tafkid, to continue the work of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We must self-reflect so that we can see where we lack, and how we can add.
This very job of creating is the exact reason why actions that do the very opposite are so harmful and damaging to this world. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 37a) teaches that the reason the Pasuk says that when Kayin shed Hevel’s blood it uses the term “Demai” instead of “Dam” is because when one kills another, he destroys his whole future lineage. A whole world, hundreds of generations from Hevel were killed by a singular murder. A person is a whole world.
The end clause of the Pasuk in Ki Tavo (28:9) “V’Halachta B’Drachav,” “and you shall walk in His (Hashem) Ways”, is the Gold Standard for modus vivendi. How do we walk in Hashem’s ways? Although we describe Hashem in anthropomorphic ways, Hashem is beyond humanity, yet all we can do is try to follow in his path. The Gemara (Sotah 14a) writes regarding a similar Pasuk (Devariim 13:5) that the way we follow after Hashem is by acting like Him: To clothe the poor, visit the sick, console the mourners, and bury the dead. This is, in a sense, the par excellence for how we should act. Rambam writes (Hilchot De’ot 1:5) that the correct way of life is to imitatio dei, to resemble Hashem. Rambam even goes as far as to say (Hilchot Gezeilah V’Aveidah 6:11) that there is an Issur against wasting your time in unproductive activities. Therefore not only is there a Mitzvat Asei to create, and to be partners with Hashem in creating the world, rather there is even an Issur to waste time on unproductive ventures.
We are put on this earth to accomplish great things. We are put here to emulate HaKadosh Baruch Hu. How better to do this than to create, to do the very first thing the Torah relates that Hashem did. Hashem created the world in its entirety. We are not G-d, yet we can try to create our own environment. By emulating Hashem, we are bettering the world. We are doing all we can to elevate this world to be as Godly as physically possible. May we all have a life of emulation of Hashem.