The Consciousness of Creation

✦  This self-guided study is a synthesis of Michael Berg's teachings on the Beresheet Torah portion, published by the Kabbalah Centre.

1 · Key Points

• The Torah doesn't begin with Aleph, the first letter, it begins with Bet (ב), because Bet represents Berachá, blessing, not judgment.
• The shape of Bet is closed on three sides and open only toward the front: the past is sealed; the only way is forward, creating.
• Bet is the first letter of Bayit (house), creation begins as the building of a home for the Creator's Light.
• Bet's numerical value is 2, duality, our work is to reveal the Aleph, the Oneness, hidden within the Two.
• Beresheet (בראשית) contains Bará Shit ("created six") and Rosh ("head, beginning"), the consciousness planted this week sets the tone for the whole year.

2 · In Short

Kabbalah teaches that the Torah opens with Bet, not Aleph, because before Creation every letter presented itself before the Creator, and only Bet, carrying the energy of Berachá (blessing), was chosen to begin everything. Its shape, sealed toward the past and open toward the future, invites us to leave what has already happened sealed and move forward in a consciousness of blessing, not fear. Bet is also the first letter of Bayit, house: Creation isn't random expansion, but the building of a dwelling where the Light can live. And since Bet's value is 2, we carry the world's duality, Light and vessel, giving and receiving, with the purpose of revealing the Oneness, the Aleph, hidden within it. Beresheet isn't an event of the past: it's the continuous act of creation renewed every time we awaken Light through our consciousness.

3 · Phrases for Contemplation

4 · Takeaways

5 · The Beresheet Consciousness Chart

Practice these consciousnesses throughout the week of Beresheet, and carry the energy of blessing, building and continuous creation into the rest of the year. Shavua Tov.