TT #4 · Bereishis 1:1

Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 1

Complete Passuk

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Yerushalmi Berachos 9:1.

Core Text
שָׁאֲלוּ הַמִּינִים אֶת רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי: כַּמָּה אֱלֹהוּת בָּרְאוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם? אָמַר לָהֶם: לְכוּ וְשַׁאֲלוּ אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כִּי שְׁאַל נָא לְיָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים... לְמִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם עַל הָאָרֶץ״ — בָּרְאוּ אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא בָּרָא. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: וְהַכְּתִיב ״בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים״? אָמַר לָהֶם: וְכִי בָּרְאוּ כְּתִיב? בָּרָא כְּתִיב.

The heretics asked Rabbi Simlai: How many divinities created the world? He said: Go and ask the first man, as it is stated (Devarim 4:32), “For ask now of the days that are past... from the day that God created man upon the earth” — not “created” (plural) but “created” (singular). They said: But it is written “Bereishis bara Elohim”! He replied: Is “baru” (plural) written? “Bara” (singular) is written.

The Yerushalmi addresses heretical challenges based on plural-looking language in Scripture. Rabbi Simlai answers by pointing to the consistently singular verb “bara,” both in the creation of Adam and in the opening verse itself.
Type of Learning: Diyuk in grammatical number — singular verb “bara” against the plural-looking form “Elohim.”
What Is Learned: Despite the plural form of the Divine Name “Elohim,” the verb “bara” is singular, teaching that one God created the world.