BERESHITH (In the beginning). Said R. Yudai: ‘What is the meaning of Bereshith? It means “with Wisdom”, the Wisdom on which the world is based, and through this it introduces us to deep and recondite mysteries. In it, too, is the inscription of six chief supernal directions, out of which there issues the totality of existence. From the same there go forth six sources of rivers which flow into the Great Sea. This is implied in the word Bereshith, which can be analysed into BaRa-SHiTH (He created six). And who created them? The Mysterious Unknown.’
בְּרֵאשִׁית רִבִּי יוּדָאי אָמַר מַאי בְּרֵאשִׁי"ת, בְּחָכְמָ"ה, דָּא חָכְמָ"ה, דְּעָלְמָא קָיְימָא עֲלָהּ, לְעָאלָא גוֹ רָזִין סְתִימִין עִלָּאִין. (בראשית מ ע"ב) וְהָכָא אִגְלִיפוּ שִׁית סִטְרִין רַבְרְבִין עִלָּאִין דְּמִנְהוֹן נָפִיק כֹּלָא, דְּמִנְהוֹן אִתְעֲבִידוּ שִׁית מְקוֹרִין וְנַחֲלִין, לְעָאלָא גוֹ יַמָּא רַבָּא. וְהַיְנוּ בָּרָא שִׁית מֵהָכָא אִתְבְּרִיאוּ. מַאן בָּרָא לוֹן, הַהוּא דְּלָא אִדְכַּר הַהוּא סָתִים דְּלָא יְדִיעַ.
BERESHITH (In the beginning). Said R. Yudai: ‘What is the meaning of Bereshith? It means “with Wisdom”, the Wisdom on which the world is based, and through this it introduces us to deep and recondite mysteries. In it, too, is the inscription of six chief supernal directions, out of which there issues the totality of existence. From the same there go forth six sources of rivers which flow into the Great Sea. This is implied in the word Bereshith, which can be analysed into BaRa-SHiTH (He created six). And who created them? The Mysterious Unknown.’