Thought for Shabbat

When we talk about the creation of human beings as we do this weekend, we remind ourselves that we are all created in the image of God. Obviously, that doesn't mean we all look alike. It doesn't mean that we have the same preferences, identity, intelligence or fate. What it means is that every person comes from the same holy origin and is entitled to the same respect and compassion.

But sometimes when we think about this concept, we focus so much on what that concept means for our relationship with others, that we forget what it means for each of us individually. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, do we see the image of God or do we see something else entirely?

Many rabbis/commentators have tried to answer the question of what it means to each of us to be created in the image of God. For many of the commentators the answer is that it is our free will, a characteristic enjoyed by no other living being, that we are in the image of God.

The Torah also teaches about the characteristics that we praise in God. And the sage Rambam takes those characteristics and tells us to emulate them. Just as God is gracious, you shall be gracious. Just as God is merciful, you shall be merciful. Just as God is holy, you shall be holy. Further, Rambam includes the prophets' descriptions of God's characteristics, such as Abundant in kindness, Righteous, and Just.

We don't know what God looks like. But that is not the image we are created in. The image we are created in is a being with free will able to emulate the characteristics of God. When we look in the mirror or look inside ourselves, the image we see should be one that does its best to emulate the image of the one who created each and every one of us. And when we see that image, we are then prepared to be a role model for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Yaier Lehrer