As we begin a new Torah cycle with Bereshit, we continue to look at the very first words of creation. One of the key Hebrew verbs that appears again and again in this chapter is lehavdil — “to separate.”
“And God saw the light, that it was good; and God separated (vayavdel) the light from the darkness.” (Gen. 1:4)
During the first three days of creation, God performs this work of havdalah — separation — again and again:
He separates light from darkness, the waters above from the waters below, and dry ground from the sea. Only after this process of separation is complete do we see life and fruit begin to appear on the earth.
This idea continues to echo in Jewish life today through the Havdalah ceremony, which marks the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the new week. The same root — lehavdil — is used here too: to separate the sacred from the ordinary, light from darkness, rest from labor. Just as in creation, true blessing comes when boundaries are recognized and light is chosen over darkness.
This pattern holds a deep spiritual truth: before fruit can grow, separation must take place. God calls us, too, to choose light over darkness — to set apart what is good, pure, and life-giving. Only when we allow His light to divide our darkness can true fruit begin to appear in our lives.
Thank you for continuing this journey with me as we uncover the beauty of the Hebrew text from the very beginning of Torah.
May God’s light guide your steps, bringing clarity, renewal, and the fruits of His blessing. Have a great week! Shavua Tov!
With warm blessings from Israel,
Julia