Parshas Bereishis for Kids
פרשת בראשית
Hashem creates the world in six days - light and darkness, sky and sea, every creature that swims and flies and walks - and rests on the seventh. Adam and Chava are placed in Gan Eden, and a child watches the whole world come into being one word at a time.
In a Torah Tale book, your own child is the hero of this story - drawn from their photo, on every page, in their own name. Written under rabbinical guidance with strict tznius, printed and shipped to your door in English, Hebrew or Yiddish.
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What happens in Parshas Bereishis
The Torah begins at the very beginning. In six days Hashem creates the whole world with His word: light, the sky, the seas and dry land, trees and grass, the sun, moon and stars, fish and birds, and every animal. Last of all He forms Adam, the first person, and later Chava. Rashi explains that even the grass waited just below the ground until Adam came and davened for rain, because only a person could appreciate the gift of rain and thank Hashem for it.
On the seventh day Hashem rests and makes Shabbos holy, a day of blessing for all time. Adam and Chava live in Gan Eden, a garden of every good thing, with one command: not to eat from the Eitz HaDaas. When they eat from it, they must leave the garden, yet Hashem still cares for them and clothes them Himself. The parsha ends ten generations later with Noach, the one man who finds favor in Hashem's eyes.
Lessons and middos for children
Hakaras hatov
The world was made full of gifts for us. Saying a bracha before we eat is how we say thank you to Hashem for each one.Kedushas Shabbos
Hashem rested on the seventh day and made it special. We honor Shabbos by getting ready for it and making it different from every other day.Teshuvah
Even after Adam and Chava made a mistake, Hashem cared for them. When we do something wrong, we can say sorry and try again.
Questions for the Shabbos table
- What did Hashem create on each of the six days? Which day is your favorite?
- Why do you think Hashem made people last, after everything else was ready?
- Rashi says the grass waited for Adam to daven for rain. What is something you can daven to Hashem for this week?
- What can our family do to make Shabbos feel different from every other day?
How your child steps into the story
Your child stands beside Adam in the brand new world, watching the stars appear and the first animals walk past. The story closes as the generations go by and a man named Noach is about to be given a very big job.