Overview
In the Beginning of the Beginning is a compendium of the scriptural, theological, philosophical, and moral issues raised by the Torah's opening verses from the beginning of creation to Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. It focuses on the analysis of those issues by traditional Jewish commentators, thinkers, and authorities, from ancient to contemporary.
Examples of topics include:
Why does Hashem speak in the plural before creating man?
What does it mean for Hashem to breathe life into Adam?
Why does Hashem need to put Adam to sleep before creating Chavah?
Why are different names of Hashem used in different p’sukim?
For these topics and more, Rabbi Alter Tzvi Amdurer presents traditional commentators who deal with these questions, from Chazal to medieval commentators like Rashi and Ramban to modern commentators like Netziv and Meshekh Chokhmah to medieval philosophers like Rambam and Rav Saadiah Gaon, modern philosophers like Rabbi Moshe Chayim Lutzatto and Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, and modern Halakhic scholars like Rav Moshe Feinstein and the Rogotchover Gaon.
For each source, Rabbi Amdurer conveniently provides the original Hebrew wording in the footnotes, thus enabling the reader to study the source in greater depth.
In the Beginning of the Beginning is the perfect book for the rabbi or educator giving an in-depth shiur on the beginning of Bereishis, as well as anyone learning Bereishis on their own. It is also a useful reference tool for anyone interested in machshava and the teachings of our greatest sages on what it means to be a human being and our place in the world.
