Parashat Bereishit: The world of water

Water is an ever-present companion throughout a person's life, providing sustenance, nourishment, and enabling life itself. Our connection to water goes beyond physical necessity and is deeply ingrained in the Jewish world. The festival of Sukkot, which recently concluded, shares a special bond with the first Torah portion, Parashat Bereishit, read on the first Shabbat following Sukkot.

According to our Sages, the world is judged concerning water during Sukkot, and water plays a significant role in the Temple rituals as well. Even the aravah branches taken on Hoshana Rabbah are tied to water, as willow trees grow near riverbanks. Moreover, on Shemini Atzeret, the festival that follows Sukkot, we begin to pray for rain.

Upon opening the Book of Bereishit once again, we find ourselves drawn into this theme of water. The Torah's opening verse reveals a world covered in water, with the text stating, "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters." This initial state of water surrounding the earth sets the stage for a separation that occurs at the beginning of Creation, one in which water and heavens are divided between heaven and earth.

This separation between water and spirits holds a yearning for connection. Our Sages describe this longing in a passage from Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher's commentary on the Torah: "The lower waters are called 'weeping waters' because when the Holy One, blessed be He, divided the waters, the lower waters began to weep, saying, 'Woe to us that we were not worthy to ascend above and be close to our Creator.

What did they do? They boldly broke through the depths and sought to rise, until the Holy One, blessed be He, rebuked them.'"

The profound integration of water in Judaism shows that it transcends mere sustenance. It symbolizes a connection between heaven and earth and the flow of life from the upper realms to the lower ones. Rainfall unites the heavens and earth, creating harmony, which is why the Talmud considers it more significant than the day of resurrection of the dead. This unity of water and spirit is the essence of resurrection itself – the reuniting of soul and body that were separated at the beginning of time.

The comparison between water and Torah is fitting since both bring life to the world. Rain causes the earth to flourish, while Torah gives human beings spiritual nourishment. Both descend from above and reach the entire world, providing meaning, direction, and purpose. Just as rain descends from above and reaches everyone, the Torah descends into the world, making human existence possible.

The physical world can sustain biological life, but it requires Torah for the inclusion of meaning, morality, and purpose. As water descends and refreshes everything without discriminating, so too does Torah have the power to reach individuals and infuse life into their inner worlds. This is particularly relevant after the Days of Awe, when we draw closer to the Creator, and following Sukkot, when we rejoice in the creation and bounty of life.