Derasha 1 on Bereishis 2:1

TT #64 · Parashas Bereishis · First Aliyah · Passuk 1 (ch. 2)

Complete Passuk

וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל־צְבָאָֽם׃

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Shabbos 119b (verified).

E-Daf image (Shabbos 119b)

Core Text

Core Textאָמַר רַב הַמְנוּנָא: כָּל הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְאוֹמֵר וַיְכֻלּוּ, מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ נַעֲשָׂה שֻׁתָּף לַהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם — תִּקְרֵי וַיְכָלּוּ אֶלָּא וַיְכֻלּוּ.
English of Core Text: Rav Hamnuna said: Anyone who prays on the eve of Shabbos and says “Vayechulu,” the verse accounts it for him as if he became a partner with the Holy One, blessed be He, in the work of creation, as it is said “Vayechulu ha-shamayim” — read not “vayechulu” (they were completed) but “vayechulu” (they completed).
On the daf / in context: The practice of reciting Vayechulu in the Friday-night Amidah (and again after it) is given this elevated status: the reciter is treated as a partner in creation.
Type of Learning: Custom (Vayechulu as partnership in creation)
What Is Learned: Reciting Vayechulu on Friday night makes one a partner with God in the work of creation.