בראשית ברא אלקים (א' א')
In the beginning Hashem created )1:1(.
The Medrash, (Yalkut Shimoni Bereishis 2), says that the Torah begins with the letter ב as opposed to an א since ב is the first letter in the word ברכה, blessing, and the Hashem wanted the Torah to begin with a letter that implies and hints to the fact the Torah is a blessing.
This idea, explains the Zera Shimshon, connects the end of the Torah to the beginning. The last parsha, Vezos HaBeracha leads into Bereishis hinting that the reason the Torah begins with a ב is because - Vezos HaBeracha - to begin with blessing.
However, this Medrash, asks the Zera Shimshon, seems to contradict the passuk that says (Tehillim 119:160), ראש דבריך אמת, “Your first word is truth.” Based on this passuk, the Torah should have started with an א representing the word אמת as implied by the passuk - that the beginning of Hashem's word, the Torah, begins with truth?
In fact, the last letters of the words ם אלקיא ברתבראשי, spell the word אמת. However, this does not suffice, since the Torah should have started with its first letter being an א as implied by the aforementioned passuk?
The Zera Shimshon answers this question with help of another Medrash.
The Medrash, (Rabbah Tazria 16:7), says that when the passuk commands us to use ‘a perfect and whole weight’ when weighing merchandise for a customer, the Torah says (Devarim 25:16), “A perfect and whole weight you shall have.”
The Medrash says the passuk implies that if a person fulfills this Mitzvah - "A perfect and whole weight", then - "you shall have", he will have merchandise with which he will become successful with. However, if he isn’t meticulous about his weights then - ‘he will not have’ - he will not see success in his business.
This Medrash teaches that when one acts with truth, only then is he blessed and his endeavors are successful and vice versa.
This is why the Torah begins with a ב which represents ברכה, blessing, as opposed to an א which represents אמת, truth. To impart an important message - that ברכה, blessing, is the outcome of אמת, truth. If a person acts with truth and his ways are truthful, only then can he attain the ב - the blessings promised by the Torah.
Therefore, the Medrash and the passuk don’t contradict one another, in fact they complement each other. ראש דבריך אמת, “Your first word is truth,” and indeed the first letter of the Torah is a lesson in truthful conduct - ברכה, blessing, is only possible to attain if one acts truthfully. Blessing without אמת, truth, is impossible to achieve.
And thus, by the Torah beginning with a ב, it is essence beginning with an א.
