Parsha and Humanity: Bereshis
This Shabbat, we begin the annual cycle of Torah readings once again. The Torah is not only a blessing for the Jewish people but for all of humanity. Throughout this cycle, I will aim to share a teaching on each Parsha, focusing on ‘The Torah and Humanity.’
Our Shared Humanity and Divinity
The Torah opens with a profound message about the nature of our shared humanity, one that, if embraced fully, has the power to heal our fractured world. According to the story of Creation, we are all descendants of Adam and Eve. As the Talmud teaches, this means none of us can say, “My father is greater than your father.” We all share the same father and mother. This foundational idea upholds the values of coexistence and equality, rejecting all forms of racism and affirming that we are, quite literally, one family—the very basis of human fraternity.
However, our connection runs deeper than shared ancestry. The Torah also teaches that we are each created in the image of God. Just as the Divine is present in me, so too is it manifest in others. The great sage Rabbi Akiva emphasized this truth when he said, “Beloved is humanity, for we are created in the image of the Divine.” It is also Rabbi Akiva who teaches that the greatest commandment in the Torah is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” In loving one another, we are also loving God.
There are three profound implications of recognizing the Divine presence in each of us. First, we are called to live up to the divinity within ourselves, holding ourselves to a high moral standard. Second, acknowledging that we are all created in the image of God must shape how we treat others—with dignity, respect, and compassion. Finally, recognizing that the same Divine spark resides in each person points to a deep, ontological interconnectedness. Once again, Rabbi Akiva speaks to this truth when he comments on the most intimate human relationship—that between husband and wife—affirming that the Divine Presence is present between them.
These timeless ideas have had an extraordinary impact on humanity. One of the most significant documents in history, the Declaration of Independence of the United States, is rooted in the Torah’s vision of a world created by God:
”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
For Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FT5PaNCL4w=