Glossary of Terms Used in the Beresheet Weekly Torah Portion

Beresheet

Beresheet (in the beginning) means that the Creator created six qualities and man. Within man are all the qualities by which to become similar to the Creator. In fact, this is the work of Creation—to build the substance, the will to receive. These qualities permeate the will to receive so that the structure as a soul will attain the state of the Creator.

The Shabbat (Sabbath)

This is Man’s final correction, when he returns to the Garden of Eden. It is a state in which we reunite into a single soul.

The Garden of Eden

In the Garden of Eden, we are all in mutual bestowal, in complete mutual guarantee.

The Woman

The “woman” is the will to receive within us, which we must connect with the man within us so that the will to receive will have the intention to bestow. We are immersed in our will to receive, a desire that is initially egoistic and that is intended to resemble the Creator, to bestow upon Him.

The Serpent

The “serpent” is the evil inclination, the angel of death. The serpent will become a holy angel when all the will to receive is corrected.¹

The Tree of Knowledge

The “Tree of Knowledge” is the greatest light. It was initially received in order to receive, thus causing the breaking of the soul. In the future, we will receive that light, but with the intention to bestow.