Bereshit 2017

Beginnings are a very powerful time in Judaism.  I guess the best place to learn about them is at THE BEGINNING.  When the Torah describes God creating human beings God says something strange: "Let us make humans".  The classic Jewish commentaries ask: "Why us?"  Clearly the Torah sees God as only One.  Who is God talking to?  Rash"i, Probably the Torah's most famous commentator says that God wants to use the humble "we".  Though it is God making humans, humans are such an incredible creation that God teaches us humility by saying "Let us make the human."  I can't do it alone.  

I think there may be another answer also. For us humans, the creation of other human beings always requires a relationship.  Sex is a manifestation of a deep relationship and only through it can we create as God did.  Perhaps the Torah is teaching us that new creations require relationships to make them so.  

We are all now on the brink of something very new, and hopefully very creative.  To make this not just another year but a truly new creation, one that will be profound, requires these 2 things, humility and relationship.  May you merit the humility to learn from your teachers, and the ability to have deep relationships with those in your community through which you can learn so much and create something big.