The Zohar tells us that "Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world." This means that the fundamental values and principles of life are in the Torah, and the whole world is built on these. If we keep the Torah, then we are "in touch" with these primary values which form the very fabric of life.

At the beginning of Creation, G-d sets out for us a very important principle of life. The Torah says: "Vayehi erev, vayehi voker, yom echad"...And it was evening and it was morning, one day".

First there is evening, and then there is morning. We begin every Shabbat, every Yom Tov, in fact, every new day at sunset. Now, everyone knows that sunrise is the "dawn of a new day". Usually, the new day is associated with morning! Why is it, then, that Hashem is telling us that a new day really begins in the evening? Try your hand at an answer. Since this is Shabbat Breishit, the first Shabbat of the year, try to use your creative thoughts in this "New Year" to solve the problem.

One answer is this: In life, we have to learn to go through problems, challenges, and crises- symbolised by the word "evening". Only when we have worked on ourselves to learn and to grow as individuals as a result of these challenges, can we arrive at "morning". This is, in fact, the way Hashem created the world. It is the blueprint of life. If we have an argument with a sister, a hard exam schedule, a break up with a best friend -this is an "evening" -a difficult time. However, if we see it as a challenge, that Hashem wants us to learn something about ourselves and to become a better person through it, then we will see the "light" of morning, after we go through that "evening".

We see this principle throughout the Torah. First there was Yishmael -then there was Yitzchak. First there was Esav -then there was Yaacov. Evening and then morning. First there was slavery in Egypt, then there was redemption. This is the model for life -a part of the fabric of Creation.

It is very hard for us to do this, but the next time things get tough and you are going through a very long "evening", instead of getting angry, frustrated, and depressed, think...What does Hashem want me to learn from this experience? Once you put yourself in this mindset, once you begin to work on yourself and learn from your experience, you will be able to see the "light" of a new day, and a new and better you emerging. And there was evening and there was morning-a new day -and a new you!