Torah as the blueprint and sustainer of creation

המשך הפסוק לעיני כל ישראל בראשית ברא שסופו קשור בתחלתו.

The connection of the verse "before the eyes of all Yisrael" (the last words of the Torah) to "In the beginning He created" (its first words) — that its end is bound up with its beginning.

The Torah's final phrase, "le'einei kol Yisrael," joins back to its opening, "Bereishis bara," teaching that the whole of creation is linked to Yisrael.

דאיתא בשביל התורה שנקראת ראשית הביט בתורה וברא העולם.

For it is taught: for the sake of the Torah, which is called "reishis (beginning)," He looked into the Torah and created the world.

The Midrash teaches that Hashem used the Torah as the blueprint of creation, gazing into it and bringing the world into being.

ובאמת התורה היא גבוה מעל גבוה ויש לה הרבה דרכים נשגבים מכל עולמות עליונים.

And in truth the Torah is exceedingly high, "lofty above lofty," and it has many paths more exalted than all the upper worlds.

The Torah in its essence is infinitely sublime, far above even the highest spiritual worlds.

אך בזו התורה שמובנת לעיני בני ישראל ברא העולם.

Yet it was with this Torah — the one comprehensible to the eyes of Bnei Yisrael — that He created the world.

Hashem created the world specifically through the dimension of Torah that Bnei Yisrael can grasp, linking the world's existence to their understanding.

ולעיני כל ישראל כולל כל הדורות וגם כל הפרטים.

And "before the eyes of all Yisrael" includes all the generations, and also all the individuals.

"All Yisrael" embraces every generation and every single person within it.

שיש לכל דור ולכל פרט ראי' מיוחדת בתורה.

For every generation and every individual has a unique vision (re'iyah) in the Torah.

Each generation, and each person, has its own particular insight and "seeing" within the Torah.

ולכן לפי השתדלות בנ"י בתורה מתנהג העולם.

Therefore, according to the effort of Bnei Yisrael in Torah, the world is conducted.

Since the world was created through the Torah as grasped by Yisrael, the way the world runs depends on their toil in Torah.

ולכן דורות הראשונים היו טובים מאלה כאשר היו מאוד עוסקין בתורה.

And this is why the earlier generations were better than these, since they were greatly engaged in Torah.

Because the earlier generations immersed themselves so deeply in Torah, the world in their time reflected a higher state.

הי' מתגלה הנהגתו ית' בעולם ממש לפי התורה.

His conduct (hanhagah), Yisborach, was revealed in the world literally according to the Torah.

In those generations, Hashem's governance of the world was openly visible, mirroring the Torah they studied.

כי כל זו ההנהגה תלויה בבנ"י.

For all this conduct depends upon Bnei Yisrael.

The manner in which Hashem governs the world hinges entirely on Bnei Yisrael's engagement with Torah.

וז"ש לעיני כל ישראל בראשית ברא.

And this is the meaning of "before the eyes of all Yisrael, in the beginning He created."

Creation ("Bereishis bara") is set "before the eyes of all Yisrael" — it exists for and through their perception of Torah.

אבל לאחרים מסיים קרא והארץ היתה תהו שהוא גשמיות הטבע.

But for others, the verse concludes, "and the earth was tohu (formless)" — which is the physicality of nature.

For those who do not see through the Torah, the world appears merely as raw, chaotic physical nature, "tohu."

ולכן כתיב שאו מרום עיניכם וראו מי ברא אלה.

Therefore it is written: "Lift up your eyes on high and see Who created these" (Yeshayahu 40:26).

The way to rise above seeing only "tohu" is to "lift up the eyes" — to perceive the Creator behind nature.

שכפי התרוממות בנ"י להשתדל בתורה מבררין איך התורה היא קיום העולם.

For according to the elevation of Bnei Yisrael in striving in Torah, they clarify how the Torah is the sustaining force of the world.

As Bnei Yisrael rise higher through Torah effort, they reveal that the Torah is what truly upholds the existence of the world.

וכתיב גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך.

And it is written: "Uncover my eyes, that I may behold wonders from Your Torah" (Tehillim 119:18).

We pray that our eyes be opened to perceive the hidden wonders concealed within the Torah.

ואיתא במד' אין הבטה אלא מלמעלה למטה ע"ש.

And it is taught in the Midrash: "beholding" (habatah) is always from above to below — see there.

The Midrash notes that the term "habatah" implies looking downward from a higher vantage point.

א"כ עיני בנ"י המה למעלה והם יכולין לפתוח מעיין הנפלאות אשר הם גנוזים בתורה.

If so, the eyes of Bnei Yisrael are "above," and they are able to open the wellspring of wonders that are hidden in the Torah.

Since "beholding" comes from above, Bnei Yisrael's vision originates in a lofty place, empowering them to unlock the hidden wonders sealed within the Torah.

וזהו לעיני כל ישראל בראשית ברא כדאיתא שנמלך הקב"ה בנשמתן של ישראל.

And this is "before the eyes of all Yisrael, in the beginning He created," as it is taught that Hakadosh Baruch Hu took counsel with the neshamos of Yisrael.

The world was created "before the eyes of Yisrael" because, as the Midrash says, Hashem consulted the souls of Yisrael at creation — they were part of its very design.

וע"ז כתיב החכם עיניו בראשו הוא בתורה שהיא ראשית ושורש הכל:

And about this it is written: "The wise man, his eyes are in his head (rosho)" (Koheles 2:14) — meaning, in the Torah, which is "reishis," the beginning and root of everything.

The wise person keeps his eyes fixed on the "head" — the Torah, which is the "reishis," the source and root of all existence.

Summary: The Torah's end ("before the eyes of all Yisrael") loops back to its beginning ("In the beginning He created"), teaching that Hashem created the world through the Torah specifically as Bnei Yisrael can grasp it. Therefore the world's governance depends on their toil in Torah — when earlier generations toiled greatly, Hashem's hand was openly revealed. Those who see only "tohu," raw nature, are urged to "lift up their eyes"; for the vision of Bnei Yisrael comes "from above," enabling them to unlock the hidden wonders of the Torah. Since Hashem took counsel with the souls of Yisrael at creation, the wise keep their eyes fixed on the Torah, the reishis and root of all.