This week marks the first anniversary of 'Weekly Thoughts'. I started out last year, Shabbos Bereishis. It is a very exciting landmark and I hope we shall reach many more together.

The story is told of the student who was still writing furiously as the examination neared its end. The supervisor announced that everyone should put down their pens but the student, desperate to finish his answer, continued writing.

The supervisor warned everybody that anyone still writing would be disqualified, but the student was so absorbed in his answer that he carried on.

When it was time to hand in the papers, the student approached the supervisor.

"You were writing after the exam was over. I won't accept your paper" the supervisor told him.

"Do you know who I am?" the student asked

"No" replied the supervisor.

"Good!" said the student. He proceeded to place his paper tightly inside the pile of other papers which the supervisor had collected and dashed out of the room.

In this week's Parsha, G-d asks Adam "Ayekah" - "Where are you?" G-d - unlike the exam supervisor - knows full well exactly whowe are and where we are. He certainly doesn't need us to tell Him. An explanation offered is that G-d is asking Adam to make an accounting of himself - ask yourself, "Where am I?"

This week is Shabbat Bereishit. Just like Rosh Hashana has an impact on the whole year, Shabbat Bereishit impacts on the entire year ahead. According to Chassidic tradition, wherever we stand on Shabbat Bereishit is where we will stand during the whole year.

We have come through the High Holidays. We have completed a period of introspection and reflection but we still need to look and to ask, as G-d asks Adam, "where am I?" Where am I up to this Shabbat Bereishit? Am I making a good start to things? Am I fulfilling my potential?

A similar explanation is given for G-d's asking Cain where his brother Abel is. Following Cain's killing of his brother. G-d Who, of course, knows where Abel is asks Cain 'Where is Abel your brother?' Cain gives the famous answer 'Am I my brother's keeper?' to which G-d tells him, basically, 'yes'.

We are all responsible for one another, the Torah tells us that each of us is a guarantor for the others. Not only must we evaluate our own position, our own standing and achievements but, crucially, we must also do so in regard to others.

May we all start off with Shabbat Bereishit in the best possible way, to the fullest of our abilities and potential.

Shabbat Shalom