Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon (the genius of Vilna), taught that the entire Torah is contained within its first book, Bereishis (“In the Beginning”), that Bereishis is contained in its first parsha (portion), this week’s reading, that the entire reading is contained in its first verse, and that the first verse is contained in its first word. This, of course, was an astounding claim!
A student challenged him by referring to the redemption of the firstborn son. The Torah says that every firstborn boy must have a ceremonial redemption from the Kohanim, the priests. When Hashem killed every firstborn male in Egypt, passing over the houses of the Jews, the firstborn acquired a measure of consecration and holiness. But when the Jews served the Golden Calf, that holiness was taken from all the firstborn and given to the tribe of Levi, which did not participate. The father of every non-Levite firstborn son gives a Kohen five silver coins to redeem him from having to participate in the service, and this ceremony is conducted even today, in anticipation of the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Levites, and even the firstborn son of the daughter of a Levite, are all exempt.
So, as you see, this is a relatively obscure item in Jewish law. Breishis, the Book of Genesis, tells the story of Creation, the generations leading to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and ends with the descent of all of Yaakov’s family to Egypt. How, the student asked, can you find the redemption of the firstborn, Pidyon HaBen, hinted in the entirety of Bereishis, much less its first verse?
On the spot, without preparation, the Vilna Gaon said that it’s obvious: the word Bereishis, comprised of the letters Bais, Reish, Aleph, Shin, Yud, Saf, is an acronym:
Bais, for Ben, a son
Reish for Rishon, the first
Aleph for Achar, after
Shin for Shloshim, thirty
Yud for Yamim, days, and
Saf for Tifdeh [Taf and Saf being the same letter in Hebrew], you shall redeem.
Together, “the first son, after thirty days you shall redeem!”
Besides reflecting the profound brilliance of the Genius of Vilna, this story teaches us a profound lesson as well: that Torah contains everything within it. We may not understand its depths, we may not perceive its teachings, but the very act of study changes us, our outlook, and our comprehension of the world and world events. It truly is our guide for life, even at levels we cannot hope to see ourselves!
