“In the beginning God created ….” (Bereshit, 1:1) “Created” means strengthening. In the beginning, God strengthened and reinforced the foundations so that they could receive the creation. This is like a king who builds a treasure house. First, he strengthens the foundations and the walls so they can receive his treasures. The heavens and the earth are the foundations of the universe, which correspond in a human being to the mind and the heart. When a person wants to live according to God’s will and become a complete creation, he needs to fortify and strengthen these two foundations. In other words, he must hand over his intellect and thoughts, and his most heartfelt desires to God, crowning God over them, so that he uses them only according to His will. This is as Rabbi Israel, the holy Baal Shem Tov, taught: “A person is entirely where his thoughts are.” This is also the meaning of the verse, “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes follow My ways” (Mishlei, 23:26). That is, if you give Me your thoughts, then you will naturally follow My ways. For when you commit your heart to God, serving Him will become primary in your life, and all worldly concerns secondary. This is like a rich man who has a wise and wonderful son whom he betroths to a woman befitting his honor. When he prepares the wedding banquet and tastes the food, all he thinks of is the joy of his son, while the taste of the food is secondary.
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים. בָּרָא הוּא מִלְּשׁוֹן חִיזּוּק, הַיְינוּ שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנָה אִמֵּץ וְחִיזֵּק הַיְסוֹדוֹת שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְקַבֵּל הַבְּרִיאָה, כְּמוֹ מֶלֶךְ שֶׁבּוֹנֶה אוֹצָר מְחַזֵּק אֶת הַיְסוֹדוֹת וְהַדְּפָנוֹת שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לְקַבֵּל מַה שֶּׁיַּנִּיחַ לְתוֹכוֹ, וְהַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ הֵם יְסוֹדוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְהֵם מְרַמְּזִין בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם עַל הַלֵּב וְהַמּוֹחַ, בְּעֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה הָאָדָם לֵילֵךְ עַל פִּי רְצוֹן הַש"י בִּכְדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בְּרִיָּה שְׁלֵימָה, אָז צָרִיךְ לְאַמֵּץ וּלְחַזֵּק אֵלּוּ שְׁנֵי הַיְסוֹדוֹת, הַיְינוּ לִמְסוֹר הַשֵּׂכֶל וְהַמַּחְשָׁבָה שֶׁבָּרֹאשׁ וְכָל תַּאֲווֹת לִבּוֹ לְהַש"י וּלְהַמְלִיךְ אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִפְעוֹל בָּהֶם דָּבָר זוּלַת רְצוֹן הַש"י. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַבֶּעשׁ״ט בְּדָבָר שֶׁמַּחְשָׁבָה שֶׁל אָדָם מְחַשֶּׁבֶת שָׁם הוּא הָאָדָם כֻּלּוֹ. וְזֶהוּ פֵּירוּשׁ הַפָּסוּק (משלי כ"ג,כ"ו) "תְּנָה בְנִי לִבְּךָ לִי", וּמִמֵּילָא "דְּרָכַי תִּצֹּרְנָה", הַיְינוּ כְּשֶׁתִּמְסוֹר לִבְּךָ לְהַש"י אָז תִּהְיֶה אֶצְלְךָ עֲבוֹדַת הַש"י עִיקָּר וְכָל דִּבְרֵי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה טְפֵלִים לָזֶה, עַל דֶּרֶךְ מָשָׁל עָשִׁיר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בֵּן הָגוּן וְחָכָם וּמַשִּׂיא אוֹתוֹ אִשָּׁה לְפִי כְּבוֹדוֹ וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהֵכִין צָרְכֵי הַנִּשּׂוּאִין וְיִטְעַם מֵהַמַּאֲכָלִים שֶׁהֵכִין, בְּעֵת טָעֳמוֹ מֵהַמַּאֲכָל יִזְכּוֹר שִׂמְחַת בְּנוֹ וְהַטְּעִימָה אֶצְלוֹ טְפֵילָה וְהָבֵן.
“In the beginning God created ….” (Bereshit, 1:1)
“Created” means strengthening. In the beginning, God strengthened and reinforced the foundations so that they could receive the creation. This is like a king who builds a treasure house. First, he strengthens the foundations and the walls so they can receive his treasures. The heavens and the earth are the foundations of the universe, which correspond in a human being to the mind and the heart. When a person wants to live according to God’s will and become a complete creation, he needs to fortify and strengthen these two foundations. In other words, he must hand over his intellect and thoughts, and his most heartfelt desires to God, crowning God over them, so that he uses them only according to His will. This is as Rabbi Israel, the holy Baal Shem Tov, taught: “A person is entirely where his thoughts are.” This is also the meaning of the verse, “My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes follow My ways” (Mishlei, 23:26). That is, if you give Me your thoughts, then you will naturally follow My ways. For when you commit your heart to God, serving Him will become primary in your life, and all worldly concerns secondary. This is like a rich man who has a wise and wonderful son whom he betroths to a woman befitting his honor. When he prepares the wedding banquet and tastes the food, all he thinks of is the joy of his son, while the taste of the food is secondary.