Bereshit is the Hebrew name of the first book of the Torah.
The name comes from the book’s opening word, bereshit, commonly translated as “in the beginning.” In English, the book is called Genesis. It contains stories of creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, ending with the Israelites’ settlement in Egypt.
The Torah’s five books are traditionally named in Hebrew from their opening words or an important early word. The other four are Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, and Devarim. In English and many other languages, they are known as Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Bereshit should not be confused with the entire Hebrew Bible, which contains the Torah plus the Prophets and Writings. It is the first of the Torah’s five books and the first book of the Tanakh.