Sefer Bereishis is given to us to learn from our ancestos’ middos tovos
Rashi asks a famous question: Why does the Torah start with Bereishis and not with the first mitzvah in Sefer Shemos? He explains: So if the nations of the world accuse Bnei Yisrael of stealing Eretz Yisrael, we can prove that it is ours by right — Hashem created the world and could therefore give us the land.
That answers why the Torah begins with the creation of the world. But what about the rest of Sefer Bereishis, which deals with the Avos and their lives? (Rav Shalom Noach Berezovsky, Nesivos Shalom)
When in Israel, drive as the Israelis do. That seems to be the default around here. It’s a simple equation of good guys finishing last. Or not getting anywhere at all.
Recently, though, I’ve reconsidered this concept. I walked out of my building and was confronted with strewn belongings and smashed glass. A bus had tried to pass another bus, lost control, and careened into the first bus, which smashed the guardrail and came to rest on the sidewalk.
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