Tzelem Elokim צֶלֶם אֶלֹקִים In God’s Image © Behrman House/Babaganewz

Tzelem Elokim (In God’s Image) The first mention of human beings in the Torah declares that we are created b’tzelem Elokim (in God’s image). The next verse teaches that humanity is diverse. When we recognize that people—in all their diversity—are created in God’s image, we connect to that part of God in them and treat them with love and respect. Whenever we deal with people—from the most difficult interactions to the most casual—we must remember that we are dealing with people created in God’s image. © Behrman House/Babaganewz

Where are some places that you see your image? Does God have an image? What does “in God’s image” mean? Explain. When you see yourself in the mirror, in what sense are you seeing or not seeing something Godly? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

“When God created Humankind, God made human in the likeness of God; male and female, God created them.” (Bereishit 5:1-2) What do you think it means to be made “in the likeness of God?” Why do you think the text says “male and female” instead of “people”? What responsibilities do you think come with being created in the likeness of God? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

“Beloved is the human being who was created in God’s image. It is indicative of a greater love still that it was made known to human beings that they were created in God’s image.” (Pirkei Avot 3:18) Why is it even greater love to let humans know that they were created in God’s image? How might knowing that one is created in God’s image lead to enhanced self-respect? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

“If a person mints many coins from one mold, they all resemble one another, but the Ruler of Rulers, the Holy One has stamped every person with the seal of Adam, the first person, and yet not one of us is like our fellow.” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5) What can we learn from this comparison between minting coins from a mold and the creation of humans from the mold of Adam? How might knowing that all humanity is created in God’s image lead to enhanced respect for other people? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

“You shall not hate your fellow person in your heart… Love your neighbor as yourself; I am God.” (Vayikra 19:17-18) What does it mean to hate someone in your heart? Why do you think the Torah commands us to both not hate and to love? Why not just say one and not the other? Why do you think the text ends with “I am God”? What connection do you think this text has to the fact that people were created in God’s image? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

How do these pictures relate to the value of being created b’tzelem Elokim, in God’s image? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

B’tzelem Elokim by Dan Nichols © Behrman House/Babaganewz Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (4x) We all got a life to live. We all got a gift to give. Just open your heart and let it out. We all got a peace to bring. We all got a song to sing. Just open your heart and let it out. Yeah… When I reach out to you and you to me, We become b’tzelem Elokim. When we share our hopes and our dreams, Each one of us, b’tzelem Elokim. We all got a tale to tell. We all want to speak it well. Just open your heart and let it out. We all got a mountain to climb. We all got a truth to find. Just open your heart and let it out. Yeah… CHORUS Bereishit bara E- - -lo- - -kim, (4x) Bereishit bara Elokim, all our hopes, all our dreams, Bereishit bara Elokim, each one of us, b’tzelem Elokim. Bereishit bara Elokim, all our hopes, all our dreams, Bereishit bara Elokim, each one of us, b’tzelem Elokim. Yeah…

B’tzelem Elokim by Dan Nichols In this song, Dan Nichols lists a variety of ways which show that people are created in the image of God. If you were to add more lyrics to his song, what would they be? How do the lyrics of this song relate to the texts that we have studied? What pictures would you use to illustrate this song? © Behrman House/Babaganewz

Photo Mosaic Look again at the collage on the first page of this presentation. It suggests that—both individually and collectively—everyone is created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of God. Create a similar collage that shows how your school community is made up of many diverse individuals. Include pictures of other classes, rabbis, faculty, administrators, custodial staff, and office staff (with their permission, of course). You can use digital photography or drawings. Consider enclosing all the images within a frame that represents your school, such as the school’s logo. © Behrman House/Babaganewz