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The End of the Beginning – A poem for Parsha Bereshit

This is the end of the beginning...
[additional-authors]
October 8, 2026
francescoch/Getty Images
francescoch/Getty Images

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Eternal. ~ Genesis 6:8

This is the end of the beginning.
It post-credits us into the reset.

Noah was not perfect but
we don’t know that yet.

Unless you’ve read ahead
or remember from last year.

Assuming we’re bookmarked
where we’re supposed to be

we’ve already met the imperfect –
the forbidden fruit eater

the brother slayer
the serpent itself.

I don’t mean to give it away
but there are more to come.

This is knowledge I possess.
This is how our year will progress.

Like opening a book to the last page.
This is what it’s going to be like all year.

We know where we’re going.
We may get wet. Unless we

find favor in the eyes of the Eternal
like Noah did, despite our imperfections

and best intentions
we may not make it.


Rick Lupert, a poet, songleader and graphic designer, is the author of 30 books including “Begin the Beget” and “God Wrestler: A Poem for Every Torah Portion.” Visit him at www.JewishPoetry.net

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