THE TWIN BRIEF

Shabbat Edition · Parashat Bereshit · Shabbat Mevarchim · Fri Oct 9 – Sat Oct 10, 2026 · 28–29 Tishrei 5787

First weekly parasha of the new cycle — Bereshit — plus Shabbat Mevarchim for Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Reading, midrash stories, a longer Dvar, practical Sephardi halacha, and full Bronx zmanim. About a 10–12 minute read. Illustrated. Open the printable version →

This Week’s Reading

Parashat Bereshit — Genesis 1:1–6:8

Shabbat Mevarchim: After the Torah reading, the shul announces Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan — Sun Oct 11 + Mon Oct 12. Molad (Hebcal): Sun Oct 11, 3:22 AM ET (9:43 AM and 2 chalakim Jerusalem time).

Teen summary: Creation of the world, Adam and Chava, Kayin and Hevel, the early generations — and we start the Torah cycle again from the first word.

Parasha Stories

Three midrashim for teens

1. The blueprints came first

Bereshit Rabbah 1:1 says Hashem “looked into the Torah and created the world.” Picture an architect with blueprints open on the table — the building isn’t random; it follows a plan. Torah isn’t only a book we study after the world exists. In this midrash, Torah is the plan the world was built from. Teen take: when you open Bereshit, you’re reading the Owner’s blueprint, not just a history chapter.

2. The angels argue about Adam

Bereshit Rabbah 8:5: before creating Adam, the angels argue. Chesed (kindness) and Tzedek (righteousness) say create him — people can do good. Emet (truth) and Shalom (peace) say don’t — people lie and fight. Hashem “throws Truth to the ground” and creates man anyway. People are imperfect on purpose; the job isn’t to be finished already — it’s to grow. Truth still matters, but creation wins the vote.

3. First light, then rest

Creation week ends with Shabbat — not as an afterthought, but as the goal. The midrashic vibe for teens: the world gets built so there can be a day that isn’t about producing. Starting Bereshit weekend with candles is starting the cycle the way the Torah ends the week — with rest that belongs to Hashem.

Dvar Torah

Who owns the world?

Rashi’s very first comment on the Torah asks a sharp question: why start with creation instead of the first mitzvah? His answer (from Midrash Tanchuma): so the Jewish people can say the whole world belongs to Hashem — and He gives the land to whom He chooses.

In a Ben Ish Chai / Yalkut Yosef style frame for teens: before any rules, Torah sets the frame. Everything comes from Hashem. You’re not the Owner. Your phone, your time, your room, other people — you’re a steward, not the landlord of the universe.

Starting the year (and the cycle) by remembering who the Owner is changes how you treat stuff. It changes how you talk when you’re annoyed. It changes whether “mine” is the first word or the last. Bereshit isn’t only cosmology — it’s a relationship update: Hashem owns it; you get to use it carefully.

Teen takeaway: before the checklist of mitzvot, lock in the frame — Hashem is the Owner. Then every rule makes more sense.

Source: Rashi on Bereshit 1:1 (Midrash Tanchuma) + Ben Ish Chai / Yalkut Yosef framing — teen reference, not a personal ruling.

Comic: Owner of the world — Rashi frame for teens
Dvar comic — remember the Owner, then treat stuff and people differently

Practical Halacha · Sephardi / SA / Yalkut Yosef

This Shabbat’s checklist

Visual checklist: shnayim mikra, mashiv haruach, Mevarchim, Yaaleh vYavo, Hallel, Musaf
Quick visual — Bereshit / Mevarchim / Rosh Chodesh points
  1. Shnayim mikra v’echad targum: review the parasha twice in Hebrew and once with Targum (or Rashi) during the week — ideally before Shabbat lunch.
  2. Mashiv haruach u’morid hageshem: still within the first 30 days. If you’re unsure whether you said it, assume you said the summer version (morid hatal) and repeat per the rules (SA OC 114).
  3. V’ten tal u’matar (request for rain in Barech Aleinu) in the Diaspora starts at Maariv on Fri night Dec 4, 2026 — not this week.
  4. Shabbat Mevarchim: the shul announces Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan after the Torah reading (Sun Oct 11 + Mon Oct 12).
  5. Rosh Chodesh (Sun–Mon): add Ya’aleh v’Yavo in the Amidah and Birkat Hamazon. Forgot in Shacharit or Mincha? Repeat the Amidah. Forgot at night (Arvit)? Don’t repeat.
  6. Hallel on Rosh Chodesh: Sephardim say the shortened Hallel without a beracha (Yalkut Yosef).
  7. Musaf is added on Rosh Chodesh both days.

Teen reference only — not personal psak. Ask a rav for your household.

Zmanim · Bronx NY 10471 · ET

Full Shabbat times

Fri Oct 9 · Erev Shabbat Bereshit / 28 Tishrei

  • Candle lighting: 6:06 PM
  • Sunset: about 6:24 PM (candles 18 min before)

Sat Oct 10 · Shabbat Bereshit / 29 Tishrei

  • Sunrise: 7:02 AM
  • Latest Shema: 9:16 AM (Magen Avraham) / 9:52 AM (Gra)
  • Latest Tefillah: 10:25 AM (MGA) / 10:49 AM (Gra)
  • Chatzot: 12:42 PM
  • Mincha gedola: 1:11 PM
  • Plag hamincha: 5:12 PM
  • Sunset: 6:23 PM
  • Havdalah: 7:13 PM(Hebcal Bronx, 50 min)

Coming up

  • Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan: Sun Oct 11 + Mon Oct 12
  • Next weekly parasha: Noach (Shabbat Oct 16–17)

Times: Hebcal Bronx 10471 / geonameid 5110266. Rabbi inputs file _inputs/shabbat-2026-10-09.md — Havdalah at 50 minutes per household practice. Confirm with your community custom.

Illustration

In the beginning

Creation of the world — first light, cosmos to Earth, navy and gold
Scene — Bereshit: darkness to first light

Closing Comic

Back to page one — and a new month

Comic: Torah cycle restarts with Bereshit; Mevarchim for Cheshvan
Clean humor — cycle restarts, Cheshvan gets announced

Prefer paper? Print this edition (letter size, B&W-friendly)