This parasha (Genesis 1:1–6:8) begins with the story of creation: "In the beginning, G-d created the heavens and the earth." The narrative describes how G-d shaped the world in six days and rested on the seventh, establishing the first week.

Day 1: G-d creates light, distinguishing it from darkness. He calls the light "day" and the darkness "night," and sees that it is good (Genesis 1:3–5).

Day 2: G-d separates the waters, creating the sky to divide the waters above from the waters below (Genesis 1:6–8).

Day 3: G-d gathers the waters to reveal dry land, calling it "earth," and lets the land produce vegetation and seed-bearing plants. G-d sees that it is good (Genesis 1:9–13).

Day 4: G-d creates lights in the sky, placing the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to govern the night, along with the stars. These separate day from night and mark seasons, days, and years. G-d sees that it is good (Genesis 1:14–19).

Day 5: G-d fills the seas with living creatures and the sky with birds. He blesses them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply," and sees that it is good (Genesis 1:20–23).

Day 6: G-d creates every kind of land animal. Finally, He creates humans in His image, giving them dominion over all living creatures. G-d blesses them, instructing them to "be fruitful and multiply" and provides them with food. G-d then looks over all He has made and declares it "very good" (Genesis 1:24–31).

Day 7: G-d rests from His work, blessing and sanctifying the seventh day as holy (Genesis 2:1–3).

The narrative continues in Genesis 2 with more detail about the creation of humanity. It describes the Garden of Eden, where G-d places the Sefer HaChaim (Tree of Life) and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Here, G-d forms the first woman from the man’s side, creating a partnership between them (Genesis 2:7–25).

In Genesis 3, the story of the fall unfolds. The serpent tempts the woman to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, leading both her and the man to disobey G-d. This act brings consequences: the serpent is cursed, the woman faces sorrow in childbirth, and the man must toil for sustenance. G-d makes garments of animal skin to clothe them and expels them from the garden to prevent them from eating from the Sefer HaChaim (Genesis 3:1–24).

The parasha concludes with the story of Kayin (Cain) and Hevel (Abel). Kayin, in jealousy, kills his brother Hevel, leading to further exile and consequence. The portion also records the birth of Seth, marking a new lineage for humankind (Genesis 4–5). Finally, the genealogical record of Adam’s descendants is introduced, setting the stage for the generations that follow.