Making sense of the sedra: Bereishit

It is the moment for which we have hoped and prayed for, during more than 700 days, never certain if it would become a reality. To see all the remaining hostages returned home, and to glimpse the prospect of peace in Israel, is profoundly emotional for so many.

Its timing feels significant and not a mere coincidence. For this Shabbat, as we begin the yearly Torah reading cycle anew with Bereishit and the story of creation, we are reminded of a timeless truth: the pinnacle of creation was not the stars, the sea or even the angels – it was us, human beings, created b’tzelem Elokim – in the image of God.

Since God has no physical form, being in His image must refer to our capacity to emulate his attributes. It means that every individual possesses freedom of choice, the power to create and infinite worth in God’s eyes. Therefore, regardless of our differences, everyone is deserving of respect and dignity and to be viewed as a reflection of the divine in this world.

Although God’s creation of the universe is described at the beginning of the Torah, it was not a one-off event. As we say every morning: “God renews the act of creation every day in his goodness.” Our sages teach that God constantly and actively wills the world to exist and if he stopped doing so, even for a moment, it would return to its primordial state. That means that our challenge is to do the same: to constantly renew the image of God – both in how we see ourselves and how we view others.

Rav Kook teaches that the existence of the world and human ethics are intertwined – that moral life is itself a continuation of creation. The choices we make have a huge impact on reality; they can either sustain or diminish the divine light in the world. While this is an immense responsibility, it is also a sign of God’s profound faith in us – that we can live up to our calling as creators of goodness.

So when we look at another person with respect and treat them with dignity, we affirm that divine image and become partners in God’s ongoing creation.

Our hope must be that this moment of return and peace becomes not only an emotional milestone, but a practical one: a renewed understanding of the value of every human being, and a commitment to treat each person as an equal bearer of God’s image. In doing so, we live the message of Bereishit – that we are not only created, but continuously called to create: goodness, justice, compassion – every day anew.

Rabbi Alex Chapper is at Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue