In the Beginning
The Book of Bereishit tells all about the creation of the world and everything in it, and about the very first people.
In six days, HaShem created the world from nothing - every single thing in the heavens and on the earth.
The First Day: Light Up the Darkness
"Vayehi ohr" - let there be light!
Before there was a world, everything was dark. On the first day, the very first thing HaShem (G-d) created - even before creating heaven and earth - was light! G-d called the light yom ("day"), and the dark lyla ("night").
During the day, when it is light, people go out and walk, play, learn, and work. They ride bicycles, build buildings, plow fields, and shop for groceries. Then at night, it's time for everyone to get cozy in their warm beds, and have a good sleep in the dark quiet of the night.
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom echad - and it was evening, and it was morning, one day.
The Second Day: Water, Water, Everywhere!
On the second day, the world was still a place without order. Water covered the earth and went up and up endlessly. HaShem split the water into two parts - the water above and the water below. The water above became the clouds (which are made of tiny little drops of water), and the water below was the water on the surface of the earth.
HaShem called the space between the water "shamayim" - sky - which is a contraction of the two words sham mayim ("water is there").
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom sheini - and it was evening, and it was morning, the second day.
The Third Day: Everything that Grows
When the third day began, water covered the entire face of the earth. There was no dry land anywhere!
HaShem spoke a command, and the waters were gathered in to become oceans, lakes, and rivers. Now there was land - giant continents and small islands - where the water had been. When HaShem separated the water from the land, He called the water yam ("ocean") and the land aretz.
Next HaShem said, "Let grass and herbs sprout from the earth, and let fruit trees grow - with seeds, so that they can continue to make more of their kind!" Immediately, every kind of plant, flower, and tree shot up from the ground. Now there were all kinds of tasty leaves, vegetables, and fruits for animals and people to eat.
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom shlishi - and it was evening, and it was morning, the third day.
The Fourth Day: Good Heavens
On the fourth day, HaShem created the sun, moon, and stars, and placed them in their positions in space. Now, when the sun and moon rose and set, there would be signs of a new day beginning, and of a new month, and a new year.
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom r'vi'i - and it was evening, and it was morning, the fourth day.
The Fifth Day: Swimming, Flying...
On the fifth day, HaShem created every kind of swimming and flying creature. The waters became filled with fish of every size and color - from tiny goldfish to enormous blue whales. The skies were filled with swarms of birds - everything from hummingbirds to ostriches.
Then HaShem commanded all of these creatures, pru ur'vu - be fruitful and multiply!
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom chamishi - and it was evening, and it was morning, the fifth day.
The Sixth Day: Creeping, Crawling, and Walking
On the sixth day, HaShem created every creature that moved on the land. In other words... bears, giraffes, monkeys, alligators, dogs, lions, cows, foxes... also, creepy-crawly things like ants, bees, spiders, worms, and even mosquitoes. From the smallest insect to the king of the jungle, each animal was designed by HaShem with incredible wisdom. The more you learn about animals, the more you will understand that the way they see, hear, move, eat, and grow is truly a miracle!
Then, last but certainly not least, HaShem created people - a man and a woman - "in His image."
He blessed them: "Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth! Conquer it, and rule over all of the other creatures! All of the plants and fruits I have created are for you to eat and enjoy, and they are also food for the animals."
People were created last, because it was for them that HaShem created everything else. The plants, animals, oceans, clouds, and even the stars, were all created to prepare the world for human beings to live in it. In the same way that a house must be built, painted, and furnished before it someone can live in it, HaShem made sure everything in the world was ready for the very first man and woman to "move in."
HaShem looked over everything He had created, and He saw that it was very, very good!
Vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom shishi - and it was evening, and it was morning, the sixth day.
The Seventh Day: Time to Rest
After HaShem created everything in the world in the first six days, there was only one thing left to do. What was the only thing that was lacking in the whole world? Rest! It's not good to work all the time. Everyone needs to take a break once in a while, and appreciate what he or she has accomplished. And that's exactly what HaShem did on the seventh day, Shabbat.
