Derasha 3 on Bereishis 1:4

TT #17 · 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 Bava Kamma 55a (verified).

E-Daf image (Bava Kamma 55a)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: הָרוֹאֶה טֵית בַּחֲלוֹמוֹ — סִימָן יָפֶה לוֹ. מַאי טַעְמָא? ... אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּפָתַח בּוֹ הַכָּתוּב לְטוֹבָה תְּחִלָּה — שֶׁמִּ״בְּרֵאשִׁית״ עַד ״וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאוֹר כִּי טוֹב״ לֹא כְּתִיב טֵית.
English of Core Text: Rabbi Yehoshua said: One who sees a tet in his dream — it is a good sign for him. What is the reason? ... Rather, because Scripture first opened with it for good — from “Bereishis” until “And God saw the light that it was good” no tet is written.
On the daf / in context: In a discussion of dream omens the Gemara notes that the letter tet first appears in the word “tov” of our passuk. That initial positive appearance makes the letter a favorable sign.
Type of Learning: Custom (first occurrence of letter tet)
What Is Learned: The first appearance of the letter tet in the Torah is in “ki tov,” giving the letter a positive association.