1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Breishit
(Genesis 1:1- Genesis 6:8 link to Sefaria here)
Creation of the Universe: ranging from the sun and planets to sea creatures, and human beings
The Adam and Eve narrative: Adam is told to not eat from the tree of knowledge. But when the snake manipulates Eve into eating it, eventually Adam does also – causing all three to receive punishments and curses
The Cain and Abel narrative: Adam and Eve’s children offer sacrifices to God. But when Abel’s is accepted while Cain’s is not, it leads Cain to murder his brother. Cain is punished and cursed.
The Development of Humanity: The parsha continues with a long genealogy list then a report that humanity has been doing evil and that god regrets having made them. The parsha ends with the birth of Noah, the prophet who will be eventually responsible for the continuity of humanity following the flood in next week’s parsha.
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2. Story context – The 7 Days of Creation
(Genesis 1:1-31, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 1:1-5 First Day of Creation: Light
Section 2 – Breishit 1:6-8 Second Day of Creation: Heavens and Oceans
Section 3 – Breishit 1:9-13 Third Day of Creation: Land
Section 4 – Breishit 1:14-19 Fourth Day of Creation: Outer Space
Section 5 - Bereishit 1: 20-23 Fifth day of Creation: Fish and Birds
Section 6 - Bereishit 1: 24-31 Sixth day of creation: Land animals and humans
3.Paintings
4. Discussion Questions
The text leaves these points ambiguous; in making their art, the the artist takes their liberty in imagining the answers to these questions:
1. How: The verses do not mention an altar. How did the brothers give up their sacrifices to God?
2. Why: Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s?
3. Private or together: Did each brother realize whose sacrifice was accepted/rejected?
4. Age: How old were the brothers?
5. The murder: How did Cain murder Abel?
(1) The Creation of Adam, Michaelangelo
4. Discussion Questions
Ideas to ponder as you read through this story:
1. Is there Hierarchy?: Do the days of creation build on top of eachother, or are each distinct and equally important?
2. Titles are Powerful: Consider the word choice of these titles. Can you name a few ironies or intriguing features of each of them?
3. Tone: What message is the artist trying to convey? Do you see any stylistic choices by the artists to hammer in these points?
4. Look for the Details: What are details that you see in these paintings that strike you? Explain them literally, then attempt to understand the purpose of it. An example: In The Creation of Adam, the blue background is parallel to the angle of Adam’s body. Why do you think this is?
(1) The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel, Julius Schnorr
(2) Cain and Abel, Salerno Cathedral
(2) The Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymus Bosch
Parshat Bereishit פרשת בראשית
Piece Description, “Genesis”
My piece of art is a book that shows the creation story through my eyes. In my mind there are 9 main stages of creation: Darkness, light, sky, land, vegetation, sun and moon, animals, humans, and rest. The pages of my book depict those stages how I images them while reading the Torah. In the book, there’s a figure on each page experiencing the world as it’s made, that figure to me feels like the reader, their an outside body that while in the world isn’t quite a part of it. That how I feel while reading any book, the Torah included, I’m a spectator. My book’s cover is made up of pages from dictionaries, the Torah is very similar to a dictionary to me, the Torah shows the formation and the start of everything that ever was and a dictionary continues to hold the meaning for everything even while not telling the story. Overall my book is supposed to project my views while reading the beginning of bereshit, my feelings and what I see in my mind.
1. Parsha Summary – Parshat Breishit
(Genesis 1:1- Genesis 6:8 link to Sefaria here)
Creation of the Universe: ranging from the sun and planets to sea creatures, and human beings
The Adam and Eve narrative: Adam is told to not eat from the tree of knowledge. But when the snake manipulates Eve into eating it, eventually Adam does also – causing all three to receive punishments and curses.
The Cain and Abel narrative: Adam and Eve’s children offer sacrifices to God. But when Abel’s is accepted while Cain’s is not, it leads Cain to murder his brother. Cain is punished and cursed.
The Development of Humanity: The parsha continues with a long genealogy list then a report that humanity has been doing evil and that god regrets having made them. The parsha ends with the birth of Noah, the prophet who will be eventually responsible for the continuity of humanity following the flood in next week’s parsha.
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2. Story context – The Cain and Abel Narrative
(Genesis 4:1-16, link to Sefaria here)
Section 1 – Breishit 4:1-2 the birth of Cain and Abel
Section 2 – Breishit 4:3-5 Cain and Abel give sacrifices,
Section 3 – Breishit 4:6-7 God motivates Cain to do better
Section 4 – Breishit 4:8-16 Cain kills Abel, God’s punishment
3.Paintings
AlHaTorah interpretation, link here
THE FIRST SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Student: Louisa Way and Mentor: Ellen Holtzblatt
THE SECOND SOURCE SHEET THAT THEY STUDIED TOGETHER
Learn more about Louisa Way here
Learn more about Ellen Holtzblatt here
