The weekly reading for the week of 29 Tisrei, 5764 - October 25, 2003 Parashah: Bereshit Genesis 1:1 to 6:8; Haftarah: Isaiah 42:1 to 43:5; Brit Chadashah: Matthew 12:1-50


The Bagel: Trouble in Paradise. Parashat Bereshit speaks of two troubles. Adam and Eve got kicked out of Gan Eden, the Garden - Paradise was in trouble. Next, the world between the Garden and the flood also got in trouble. That world could be called the lesser paradise. The reading begins in creation, Paradise, Shabbat, but ends with trouble in the Pre-flood world. Paradise was lost. Paradise was in trouble, because there was trouble in Paradise. Satan appeared in the Garden, then our first parents disobeyed and brought sin into the Garden, then just prior to the flood there was universal rebellion so that Noah had to be commissioned to rescue the surviving remnant of the righteous. Because trouble was in Paradise, Paradise became troubled. Paradise didn't pollute Adam and Eve so as to compel them to disobey and bring trouble. It was the other way around, they made a moral choice that brought the trouble. They polluted Paradise with sin.

The Haftarah hints at a Servant who will reverse the downward spiral. This might be called goodness in Perdition. Morality, healing, and righteousness characterize this goodness. Perdition will never be the same. As a result of this promise about the coming Servant, Perdition will be in goodness. Evil is in trouble because of the goodness of G-d.

Paradise and Perdition are in conflict. Holiness and sin cannot participate in peaceful co-existence. In the reading of the Brit Chadashah, Isaiah's promised Servant appears on the scene. Perdition is in trouble, goodness has arrived. But also Paradise began its long trek back to Eden. Trouble is about to be expunged from Paradise, the Messiah is here. Naturally, conflict happens, because supernatural goodness abounds in Yeshua's ministry. Unseen, but real to the event, Satan appeared in that troubled Perdition that was being affected by goodness. His goal: to keep the status quo, to keep Paradise in trouble and Perdition in the preeminence. Yeshua was accused falsely of doing unlawful things. This led to a murderous plot against His life. Yet Yeshua continued in goodness. Matthew quotes the missing preamble to the Haftarah reading:

"This is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one, in whom I delight. I have put My spirit upon him, He shall teach the true way to the nations. He shall not cry out or shout aloud, Or make his voice heard in the streets. He shall not break even a bruised reed, Or snuff out even a dim wick. He shall bring forth the true way. He shall not grow dim or be bruised Till he has established the true way on earth; And the coastlands shall await his teaching" (Isaiah 42:1-4 Tanakh JPS).