We enter the new cycle of Torah reading with B’reishit, the Creation Story. The words of the Torah are unchanging, but we can never remain the same. As we begin a new year of Torah study, we strive for greater understanding, deeper commitment, and active fulfillment of Mitzvot.
The following is my translation from Hebrew of a Midrash for B’reishit which appears in an Israeli public school textbook for the study of Torah by upper elementary grade students.
Once David, the king of Israel, was sitting in his garden. He saw a hornet eating a spider.
David said, “Ribono shel Olam [Master of the World], what use are these [creatures] that are in Your World?”
“The hornet – it has no honey and it has a sting. It is of no benefit.”
“The spider – it weaves webs all year and [yet] has no clothing.”
Elohim said,” David, you mock my animals. The day will come when you will need them.”
The day came. King Saul was pursuing David.
David hid from Saul in a cave.
Elohim sent a spider to help him.
The spider spun a web on the entrance to the cave and closed it.
Saul came and saw.
“The entrance to the cave is woven [over] with webs,” he said. “Certainly, no person could have entered here. If a person had entered, he would have torn the web.”
Saul went away and did not go in there.
David came out of the cave. He saw the spider.
He said, “Blessed is the One Who Created you and blessed are you.”
Shabbat Shalom – Rest and renew.
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