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Parahat Breishit Rebbetzin Shelley Portnoy

10/04/2013 05:13:37 PM

Oct4

Parshat Breishit                                      Rebbetzin Shelley Portnoy

The first Parshah of the Torah begins with the creation of the world and the very beginnings of mankind.  I would like to share with you one of many intriguing ideas which I came across while studying Parshat Bereishit.  On the sixth day of creation, Hashem said to the angels:"Na'aseh adam betzalmeinu..." which means: "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness."   Rashi, and other commentaries ask the famous question: Why was this statement written in the plural form?  We know Hashem alone created man without any assistance.  Wasn't G-d afraid that the other nations would derive from this that there is more than one god?  There are many answers to this question which I won't go into here.  However, the Sfas Emes offers a very interesting insight which I would like to relate.  He says that each individual person is a partner in his own 'creation.'  Hashem creates each of us with a tremendous amount of potential which is just waiting to be developed.  It's as if Hashem says to each person: "Na'aseh..." - "Let us work together.  I have created you and now you must do your job.  Make yourself into the very best person you can be."

We must elevate ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to what Hashem wants us to be.  Of course, realizing our full potential is the work of a lifetime and a very formidable task.  We must constantly work, struggle and strive to achieve higher and higher levels by nurturing that which is within our abilities.  This coming year, let us all try a little harder to reach our goals.  May we all achieve in this world the full realization of all the potential Hashem invested in us.   

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784