The Large Bet of Bereshit — Genesis 1:1
בְּרֵאשִׁית
What to look for
The very first letter of the Torah, the bet of Bereshit, is written noticeably larger than every letter around it.
What it is
An enlarged letter (ot gedolah), one of a small set of letters the scribal tradition writes oversized.
Why it matters
The Torah opens with a letter that stands taller than all others, marking the doorway into Scripture itself.
How it has been understood
Tradition asks why the Torah begins with bet and not alef. One answer: bet begins berachah (blessing). Bet is also closed on three sides and open toward the text ahead, teaching that we enter creation facing forward, not speculating about what lies behind the beginning.