Genesis Through Jewish Eyes: Creation as a Practical Life Lesson
Imagine waking up every morning with the freedom to begin again. Imagine that your past does not define who you are today — that you carry within you the power to recreate yourself. This is precisely what the first book of the Torah, Bereshit, teaches us. The Hebrew word means literally ‘in the beginning,’ and it opens a narrative that is not merely about the creation of the world, but about your own capacity for renewal. In this first article of our series on sacred texts through a Masonic lens, we explore how this ancient Jewish wisdom translates into the practical art of living. The Power of the First Word In Jewish tradition, Bereshit is far more than a historical account. The medieval commentator Rashi noted that the Torah does not open with laws or commandments, but with a creation story — and this is no accident. It tells us that before we can act, we must first understand where we come from and what our place is within the greater whole. Creation unfolds not randomly but with order, intention, and the deliberate separation of light from darkness. For Freemasons, this resonates deeply. Every lodge meeting begins with the lighting […]