Friday, October 25, 2024/23 Tishrei, 5785

Friday, October 25, 2024/23 Tishrei, 5785

Parashat B’reishit Genesis 1:1−6:8

Dear Friends,

Shabbat Shalom. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the White Rabbit asks the King, “Where shall I begin, please your Majesty?” The King then gravely responds with the advice to begin at the beginning (and continue until the end, then stop). At this moment, the first part of the king’s advice seems very pertinent, while the second part is just not Jewish. This Shabbat marks the first Shabbat in the cycle of the Torah readings, and we are definitely beginning at the beginning. We do this knowing that in the year that follows, we make our way through the Torah again, come to the end, and then start all over again.

In this cycle, there is something that is amazingly reassuring. This tradition tells us that there is always something new to learn. We can always find a new perspective on even the most familiar of things, and that makes life worth living. There can be, and will be, a surprise waiting for us to come upon it. If we are open to it, there will be a moment of revelation that will lift the spirit and warm the soul, and amaze us. 

This week as I prepared for Shabbat, I had exactly one of those moments. In the Genesis narrative, the definite article (the), or the lack thereof, plays an important part in our understanding of the text. At the very start, there is no definite article. Even though I was brought up on, “In the Beginning,” that is an incorrect translation, and far too exact a phrase for a poetic introduction to the astounding creation of the world and existence. The Hebrew text has no “the” in it, so the current translation may be read as, “When God began to create,” or “As God began creation,” or even “As God began to create the heavens and the earth.”

I particularly like the last version since it does require us to accept an absolute beginning to creation as we know it. It allows the universe to be billions of years old, in spite of the Genesis reference to 7 epochs of bursts of creation. It allows us to appreciate the majesty of the creative process that ultimately results in us being here now. That combined with the lack of the definite article being applied to each “day” of creation, allows us to agree with Rashi’s commentary from 1,000 years ago which states that the Genesis narrative was not meant to give us a chronological order to creation. It also allows us to understand that one of those “days” did immediately follow the other, nor were they 24 hours long.

However, imagine my amazement when I discovered (this week) that Day Six is, in fact, referred to as, “the sixth day.” How could I have missed that fact all these years? More importantly, why would the Torah do that, and having done that change, what was it trying to tell us?

I was somewhat relieved to find that I was not the only rabbi to have ignored this shift in the Torah. I could not find any modern commentary about this, until I looked at the Soncino Chumash (Torah with commentary). There I found that the Sixth was an important date. The Sixth of Sivan (Shavuot, the Time of the Giving of the Torah), was the date when our ancestors accepted the Torah. Had they not, the universe would have been thrown back into the chaos and disorder that existed in the very beginning. It also means that it is up to us, in every generation, to hold the Torah close to our hearts and continue to search for new and better meanings in it. This will bring us new understandings that will help us to live good and meaningful lives.

On this Shabbat of new beginnings, let us pause for a moment, and think of the blessings that the Torah has brought into our lives. On a very personal note, some 40 years ago, as a rabbinic student, I taught Hebrew to an Adult B’nai Mitzvah class here at Temple Beth El. Tomorrow and next Shabbat, I will have the honor to be the rabbi as two granddaughters of students in that class will be called to Torah for the first time as each becomes Bat Mitzvah. The gifts of Torah, and its blessings, truly move L’dor Vador, from generation to generation.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marv
rabbischwab@bethelsp.org


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Ilan Davidson

Cantor

Cantor Ilan Davidson has been pleasing audiences with his singing since before he could read. At age five, he began singing with his Cantor, Philip Moddel, and hasn’t shut up since. At ten, he made his Operatic debut with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, as a street urchin. Since then, he has performed roles in opera and musical theatre, performing, directing, and producing world-class productions.

Among his many accomplishments, Cantor Davidson is also known as a contemporary Jewish songwriter and performer, having delighted audiences all over the world, including Israel and Lithuania with the soulful sounds of his music. His recordings, Stained Glass (1995) and In A Hanukkah Mood (2007) are collections of original and covered songs by himself and many contemporary Jewish artists. His most recent recording, God Is In This Place (2020), is a collection of original liturgical pieces for the Friday night Shabbat Service, commissioned and written in honor of his 25th Anniversary as the Cantor of Temple Beth El.

Cantor Davidson left the stage and in 1995 joined the Temple Beth El family, in San Pedro, where, in his nearly 30 years of service, he has brought many new programs and much enthusiasm to all he does. Coming from a long line of Cantors, it must have been Besheret for Cantor Davidson, although talented in all areas of musical performance, to finally settle down into his career as Hazzan for Temple Beth El in San Pedro, California. In 2007, Cantor Davidson founded a new foundation, KindredSPIRITS, producing an annual world humanitarian aid event. KindredSPIRITS premiered on June 5, 2008 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, adding that prestigious concert hall to the ever growing list of venues around the world, where Davidson has performed. During the 10 years of humanitarian events, Global KindredSPIRITS, Inc., as an official 501©3, raised awareness and close to $500,000 for its beneficiaries over the decade.
As a past president of the South Coast Interfaith Council, Ilan fought for tolerance and understanding of ALL faiths in a difficult climate. For the past 7 years, Cantor Davidson has been service as an LA County Commissioner, representing the 4th District on the Human Relations Commission, where he currently serves as President. Whether it is raising his voice for justice, Hazzanut, Pop, Opera, Musical Theatre, or folk music, Cantor Ilan Davidson shares his soul and genuine love in every note.

When asked about his finest accomplishment, Cantor Ilan invariably responds, “After all the great concerts, services, and roles, my finest role in life is that of husband to my beautiful wife, Jodi, and daddy to my gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.”

cantor@bethelsp.org

Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 106

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