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Rabbi David Lau, on Creation

(taken from the movie "From Genesis to Independence")

According to Jewish belief, the world was created in seven days.

The first day was the day that light and darkness were created. First there was a moment of light, then there was a moment of darkness.                                                                                                               

On the second day, God divided the waters that were under the firmament from the waters above the firmament and God called land, earth and the   waters, Seas.                                                                                                                               

On the third day, the earth brought forth grass, trees, plants, all the fruits, all the vegetables; all of them were created on the third day.                                                                                                                                 

On the fourth day of creation, God said: let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars  also;                                                                                                                                                           

And on the fifth day God created great and small creatures.                                                                                                          

On the sixth day, God created the animals and the beasts that we know, and hereafter God created man in his image.   

 

Man has special virtues in the universe; he is sincere and wise. He does not act instinctively but rather uses his wisdom and feelings. Man has feelings and emotions and acts morally.                                            

Furthermore, God said that it is not good that man is alone because then he is a bad creation. When he lives with someone, he shares feelings, comradeship and interacts with others. Then he can become a whole person.                                                                                                                                                                                          

Then God created woman, who would support and help Adam and then there were   Adam and Eve. They were one, and then the world was complete.                                                                                                                                                            

Only one more thing was lacking. After six days of creation and activity, one needs to rest, because creating and activity are physical actions of the body. We need to give the soul a rest. This is the Sabbath.   

 

                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

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