Derasha 1 on Bereishis 1:4

TT #15 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 4

Complete Passuk

וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Yoma 38b / Chagigah 12a (verified).

E-Daf image (Yoma 38b)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אֲפִלּוּ בִּשְׁבִיל צַדִּיק אֶחָד עוֹלָם נִבְרָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב״, וְאֵין טוֹב אֶלָּא צַדִּיק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אִמְרוּ צַדִּיק כִּי טוֹב״.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Elazar said: Even for the sake of a single righteous person the world was created, as it is said “And God saw the light that it was good,” and there is no “good” except a righteous person, as it is said “Say of the righteous that it is good.”
On the daf / in context: The identification of “tov” with the tzaddik appears in several places; here it is tied specifically to the light of the first day, which was later hidden for the righteous.
Type of Learning: Custom (gezerah shavah-like link of “tov” to tzaddik)
What Is Learned: The “good” of the primordial light alludes to the righteous, for whose sake the world (or the light) was created.