Reb Yisroel of Ruzhin taught that everything in the Torah is contained in Chumash Bereishis. Everything in Chumash Bereishis can be found in parashas Bereishis. Everything in parashas Bereishis is contained in the first pasuk. And everything that's in this first pasuk is condensed in the first letter, the letter 'ב of Bereishis. And everything that is in the 'ב is found in a drop of ink at the edge of the 'ב. And that drop of ink represents the entire Torah that is so high and concealed.
The Tzemach Tzedek zt’l taught that Hashem is very happy on Shabbos Bereishis. Hashem's joy can be compared to that of a father who is happy when he brings his son to cheder for the first time to learn Torah. The Tzemech Tzedek of Lubavitch zt'l said, די גייט אזוי בראשית שבת אוועק זיך שטעלט'מ ווי יאר גאנצע, "How we act on Shabbos Bereishis, that is how it will be the entire year."
Reb Dovid'l Tolner zt'l said about Shabbos Bereishis, השנה שבתות לכל הכנה שהיא, "it is a preparation for all Shabbosim of the year."
Reb Moshe Gross z'l from Switzerland, wanted to be in Tel Aviv with the Belzer Rav (Reb Aharon of Belz zt'l) for Simchas Torah, but the trip took longer than expected, and he only arrived at the shores of Haifa on Hoshana Rabba afternoon. He spent Simchas Torah in Haifa and got to the Belzer Rav in time for Shabbos Bereishis.
It's a Belzer custom to sing the piyut אמונים נאספו אשר three times on Shabbos Bereishis. (The piyut is printed in machzorim before the Shemoneh Esrei of Shacharis of Shemini Atzeres.) While the chassidim sang this song, Reb Moshe was absorbed in his disappointing thoughts of not having arrived earlier.
When they finished singing, the Rebbe whispered into his ears, "Shabbos Bereishis is also associated with the heilige teig." Shabbos Bereishis is also part of the holy yomim tovim. And that is part of the specialness of this holy Shabbos. The white paroches still hangs over the aron hakodesh, and many have the custom of eating round challos dipped in honey. Shabbos Bereishis can be considered the transitional phase, closing the yomim tovim and carrying the inspiration into the rest of the year.
