Project Genesis




To emulate G-d

In Judaism, we are encouraged to emulate G-d in many ways. We rest on Shabbat because G-d rested, seek justice as G-d is just, etc. Can you help me find verses in the Torah that urges us to manifest G-d’s qualities?

Hi,
Thanks for asking such a great question. I think that your question can be summed up in one verse from the Torah. It says in Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:18, “Ve’ahavta l’re’acha kamocha, ani Hashem.” This means, “Love your neighbor as yourself, I am G-d.” This is teaching us, as Rabbi Akiva said, “A great concept in Torah.” Also, this message is that you must love everybody, which is really G-dliness, because every action that G-d does in to us is with great love. Even the things that we think are “bad” or “troublesome” are ultimately for our good. We just don’t understand it because we are human. The point is that when you speak of how we should emulate G-d, the way to think about is that there is a piece of G-d in everyone. Therefore, love everyone (meaning give as much of yourself as you want to be given to) and in that way you will be G-dly. I hope that this example helps. To me this is
the message that is the backbone of all Torah.
Thanks,
Rabbi Litt

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