Parshat Bereishit (In the Beginning)

The Torah portion is Bereishit, Genesis 1:1-6:8. In synagogues using the Triennial system, 5785 is year 3 and the Torah reading is Genesis 5:1 to 6:8.

This is the first parshah of the Torah, from a book known in English as Genesis. The name of the book, Bereishit, is simply the first word in the book. This covers a large swath of the beginning of history, from Creation through Cain, Abel and Seth, to increasing wickedness. It ends with the first mention of Noah.

The haftarah is Isaiah 42:5-43:10. It connects to the Torah reading because it begins by identifying G-d as the One who created Heaven and Earth and life.

In synagogues using the Sephardic tradition, the Haftarah is Isaiah 42:5-21.