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28 Tishrei 5781
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Bereishit - Mevorchim

The Stone Edition Chumash Commentary...

We begin the study of the Torah with the realization that the Torah is not a history book, but the charter of Man's mission in the universe.  Thus, in his very first comment, Rashi cites Rav Yitzchak who says that since the Torah is primarily a book of laws, it should have begun with the commandment of the new moon (Exodus 12:2), the first law that was addressed to all of Jewry as a nation.   He explains that the reason for the Torah's narrative of Creation is to establish that God is the Sovereign of the universe:  He declared to His people the power of His works in order to give them the heritage of the nations (Psalms 111:6).  If the nations accuse Israel of banditry for seizing the lands of the seven nations of Canaan, Israel can respond, "The entire universe belongs to God.  He created it and He granted it to whomever He deemed fit.  It was His desire to give it to them and then it was His desire to take it from them and give it to us."

~ SHABBAT SHALOM and CHODESH TOV ~

Interesting timing when we are reading about the creation of the heavenly bodies...