The truth is that most people will judge you on the first impression.
As the famous adage goes, “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Well, in Judaism, we hardly (never?) say never. Although it is important to make a good first impression, and it is important in forming new relationships and with social encounters, sometimes things don’t work out as planned.
However, it is actually possible to change the first impression. We do have a version of our own to the same concept. [Instead of using “never” and “don’t” we try to use a positive approach]. It goes like this: “According to the stance one adopts on Shabbat Bereishit, the entire year follows.”
Less than a week after celebrating the conclusion of the Torah and starting over again, this Shabbat we read the portion of Bereishit, the first of 53 Torah portions.The word “Bereishit” means “in the beginning” and refers to G-d creating the world. But in a sense, it is also the beginning of the year. Although the year technically started on Rosh Hashanah, it is not until this week that things take shape.
The holidays have kept us busy for the first few weeks of the year, and we may not have had a chance to settle into the new year and all that it entails. Finally, this week, with all the holidays behind us, as we settle back into our routine, we are able to really start fresh, with a clean slate.
May this be the beginning of many good things for all of us, with blessings and health for our community and our families.
Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Shlomi Tabib
Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash
