Out of nothingness?

[Me Myself]

How "jewish" is the idea of the universe coming out of "nothing" ?

[Levite]

Originally Posted by Me Myself

How "jewish" is the idea of the universe coming out of "nothing" ?

Pretty Jewish. Creation ex nihilo is the standard mainstream belief in Judaism regarding God's creation of the universe.

[Me Myself]

Ah! I thought somewhere I´ve heard that the word used in Genesis for God creating stuff was something more akin to "organizing" and I think I remember that it was used like when a bird makes a nest, organising the twigs.

It´s a loose and fading memory though, did I make it up?

[Levite]

Originally Posted by Me Myself

Ah! I thought somewhere I´ve heard that the word used in Genesis for God creating stuff was something more akin to "organizing" and I think I remember that it was used like when a bird makes a nest, organising the twigs.

It´s a loose and fading memory though, did I make it up?

There are a couple of words used for how God makes the world in Genesis, including some that mean more like "form," "make," "build," and other words implying usage of extant material. But what is important to recall is that Genesis joins the Creation story already in progress.

The first part of the first verse is actually better translated "At the beginning of God's creation of the heavens and the earth...." By the time the Genesis narrative begins, God has already created the primal material elements out of which the universe is made. The accounts in Genesis speak (not literally, but in metaphor and allegory) of shaping that material into the universe that exists.

[Me Myself]

Ah okay, thanks bunches!

[Levite]

Originally Posted by Me Myself

Ah okay, thanks bunches!

Any time. It's what we're here for.