SAN DIEGO — “And G-d said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heaven and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the creeping things that creep upon the earth.” (1:26)
The Maharal, Yehuda Aryeh Löwe of Prague, teaches, “that we are called to deal kindly with all of humanity and certainly not to cause harm to anyone’s physical being, financial welfare, or personal dignity nor to disgrace or diminish the Divine image in our fellow.” The diversity of humanity is a crucial component of this understanding. After all, we learn in 1:27 that G-d created mankind b’tzelem Elohim, “in [the divine] image.”
Contemporary society, from politics to entertainment including news media, has much to learn in terms of the importance of words. The words in this week’s parasha instruct us to see the dignity in all humanity, and the way in which we think about and treat one another is anchored in these words – “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” – b’tzelem Elohim.
The RaDak, Rabbi David Kimchi, was born in the city of Narbonne in the Provence area of southern France in the year 1160. He taught, “it was a sign of man’s honor and elevated status that he was created last to make known that all mortal creatures were created for his sake and he was made the lord of all them.”
It is clear that we, man and woman, were created with a special responsibility over creation as it says in 1:28, “And G-d blessed them, and G-d said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the sky and over all the beasts that tread upon the earth.” Notice that we are not told to have dominion over other humans, but rather over “fish, fowl of the sky and the beasts that tread upon the earth.” We are not better than another but rather we are equals, regardless of what one thinks – or how insecure one may feel. Perhaps this is where Thomas Jefferson’s “…all men are created equal…”is anchored.
As the new year begins with Bereishit, we have the opportunity to begin anew, with a renewed sense of commitment to act in all ways “b’tzelem Elohim.” One essential responsibility we have is to value and unite with every member of the dynamic and diverse community of humanity. We are taught to look beyond the outside of fellow humans and see that which lies within – and ultimately to be grateful for being created in G-d’s image. Not better than another, not beneath another…but “b’tzelem Elohim.”
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Dr. Mantell writes a d’var Torah each week for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family worship.