By Dr. Devorah Okin
In this week’s Torah portion, Va’etchanan, Moshe (Moses) recounts epic passages in the Torah, among them the Ten Commandments and warnings of future exile. He follows these fearsome warnings and abyssal commandments with a simple command: to do “what is upright and good in the eyes of G-d” (Deut. 6:18). Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, explains that this is, in effect, a commandment to be moral, beyond the legal requirements of the Torah, including interpersonal obligations such as charity and kind speech (c.f. “Essays on Ethics, Va’etchanan, 5775). Rabbi Sacks writes that this commandment includes an obligation to generally treat others with respect and dignity, including those with whom we might disagree – even on fundamental beliefs and values – and to view each person as a unique individual, deserving of such respect and dignity. Just as G-d views, loves, and judges each of the billions of people as individuals, rather than as faceless masses, we are enjoined and obligated to emulate G-d and consider each person in their own right.
In this way (as well as in other matters), Judaism differs fundamentally from other theological approaches such as Aristotelianism (c.f. Metaphysics, book 12) and Deism, which posit that G-d views humanity only as a conglomerate or lacks involvement in the daily particulars of people. Judaism argues that G-d cares deeply about each of the billions of people currently walking the earth and is intimately involved in the most mundane minutiae.
The Torah (Genesis 1:27) recounts that G-d created Adam “in His image,” which can be interpreted as an assertion of humanity’s tremendous importance and potential for greatness. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 90a) famously states that the creation of Adam as a single, lonely individual is meant to show the value of every person: each individual is worthy of having the world created solely for their existence. As a result, the Talmud concludes, “One who saves a life saves a world.” To equate a person with a world is to describe the tremendous potential of human beings, in domains such as kindness, learning, and self-improvement. In practice as a psychologist, I am often amazed by the challenging work my clients can complete and how much they can accomplish when determined to change their lives for the better. As a parent, I am often astonished by what my young children can do and how they persistently learn difficult skills, from patience to the alphabet and fine motor coordination.
We are currently in the Jewish month of Av, with the High Holy Days more than one month away. On Rosh Hashanah, each of us will be evaluated individually (and collectively) to see if we spent the past year working to our potential and improving ourselves and the world. Let us use the next few weeks to reflect on the past year, improve our character and actions, and treat others with the dignity and respect befitting all created in the image of G-d.
Rebbetzin Dr. Devorah Okin is a postdoctoral clinical psychologist at a private practice in East Amherst and the rebbetzin of Young Israel of Greater Buffalo.
