Book of the Torah · Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית)
Genesis (Bereshit): The First Book of the Torah
Genesis (Hebrew: Bereshit, בְּרֵאשִׁית, "In the beginning") is the first of the five books of the Torah, a 50-chapter narrative of creation and the founding families of the Jewish people, divided into the first 12 of the Torah's weekly portions.
The weekly portions of Genesis
What Is Genesis (Bereshit)?
Genesis takes its Hebrew name, Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית), from its very first word, meaning "In the beginning." The familiar English title "Genesis" comes from the Greek for "origin." As the opening book of the Torah, it is told almost entirely as story rather than law, tracing the origins of the world and of the people of Israel. The book unfolds in two broad arcs. The Primeval History (chapters 1–11) covers the six days of creation and the Sabbath, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Cain's murder of Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel with the scattering of languages. The Patriarchal (or Ancestral) History (chapters 12–50) then follows four generations: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob with Leah and Rachel, and finally the Joseph cycle that carries the family down into Egypt. Genesis contains very little legislation. Its principal explicit commandment is circumcision (brit milah), given to Abraham in chapter 17 as the sign of the covenant. Its dominant themes are divine creation, human freedom and moral responsibility, the covenant of descendants, land, and blessing made with the patriarchs, and the primacy of family relationships over politics and warfare.
The 12 Weekly Torah Portions in Genesis
In the annual cycle of Torah reading, Genesis is divided into 12 weekly portions (parashot)—the first 12 of the Torah's 54. Each is read on Shabbat in sequence, beginning the cycle anew each autumn after Simchat Torah. The portions are: 1) Bereshit (1:1–6:8), 2) Noach (6:9–11:32), 3) Lekh Lekha (12–17), 4) Vayera (18–22), 5) Chayyei Sarah (23–25:18), 6) Toledot (25:19–28:9), 7) Vayetzei (28:10–32:3), 8) Vayishlach (32:4–36), 9) Vayeshev (37–40), 10) Miketz (41–44:17), 11) Vayigash (44:18–47:27), and 12) Vayechi (47:28–50). Each parashah is traditionally subdivided into seven aliyot (called-up readings) plus a concluding maftir—the practical units a Torah reader chants aloud.
Practicing Genesis with Trope on TropeTrainer
Every weekly portion in Genesis is read aloud from the Torah scroll using a system of cantillation marks, called trope (Hebrew: ta'amei ha-mikra), that set the melody for chanting. From the opening words of Bereshit to the final blessings of Vayechi, learning to read in synagogue means mastering both the Hebrew text and its trope. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice every parashah in Genesis with trope. You can listen to the cantillation, follow along verse by verse, slow it down, and rehearse your specific aliyah or maftir until it is ready—whether you are preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, learning to lein for the first time, or refreshing a portion you have read before.
Frequently asked questions
What is Genesis (Bereshit)?
Genesis is the first of the five books of the Torah. In Hebrew it is called Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית), "In the beginning," after its opening word. Across 50 chapters it tells the story of creation, the early generations of humanity, and the founding families of the Jewish people—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. It is divided into the first 12 of the Torah's weekly portions.
What does Genesis (Bereshit) mean?
The Hebrew name Bereshit (בְּרֵאשִׁית) means "In the beginning," and is taken directly from the first word of the book. The English title "Genesis" comes from a Greek word meaning "origin" or "beginning," reflecting the book's focus on the origins of the world and of the people of Israel.
How do you pronounce Bereshit?
Bereshit is commonly pronounced "buh-ray-SHEET" (beh-ray-SHEET), with the stress on the final syllable. Transliteration and pronunciation vary by community—you may also see it written Bereishit or hear an Ashkenazi pronunciation closer to "buh-RAY-shis."
How many Torah portions are in Genesis?
Genesis contains 12 weekly Torah portions (parashot): Bereshit, Noach, Lekh Lekha, Vayera, Chayyei Sarah, Toledot, Vayetzei, Vayishlach, Vayeshev, Miketz, Vayigash, and Vayechi. These are the first 12 of the 54 portions read across the full annual Torah cycle, each chanted on Shabbat with trope.
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