Creating Ourselves

Insight of the Week

The Torah tells that before Hashem created Adam, He announced, נעשה אדם בצלמנו כדמותנו – "Let us make man in our image and in our form" (Bereshit 1:26). Already the earliest commentators raised the question of why Hashem spoke here in the plural form – נעשה ("Let us make"). Of course, there was nobody for Him to talk to at this time. And even if there was, nobody created Adam besides Him. So why did He say נעשה , in the plural form? Rashi explains that Hashem was speaking here with the angels in heaven, who were already in existence. In order to teach us the important lesson of humility, Hashem "consulted," as it were, with the angels before creating the human being. It goes without saying that Hashem did not need, and never needs, to consult with anyone. His knowledge and understanding are perfect and flawless, and so He does not ever require a second opinion. Nevertheless, Hashem asked the angels for their opinion before creating Adam in order to teach us about the importance of considering other people's viewpoints. We often like to think that we know better than everyone else, that we don't need anyone's guidance or advice, that we are always right about everything. It is so important for us to not have this attitude, to realize that other people might know better than us – that Hashem made a point of "consulting" before creating the first human being, to show us an example of seeking other opinions. We need to accustom ourselves to considering other viewpoints, and humbly recognize that other people might know more and might have better ideas that we do. But there is also an additional interpretation of this pasuk . A number of commentaries explain that in this pasuk , Hashem is talking not to the angels – but rather to the human being whom He was now creating. Hashem turns to each and every one of us and announces: נעשה אדם – "Let US create you!" Hashem creates our physical body, and gives us a soul, as well as skills, talents, capabilities – and, yes, limitations and struggles. He also sends us challenges and hardships throughout our lives. He gives us all this for the purpose of נעשה אדם , so that together, we will create ourselves. Our obligation throughout life is to build ourselves, to improve ourselves, to grow, to change. Hashem does not do this work for us; instead, He partners with us. He gives us the tools, and He puts us in the right circumstances. We then have to do our part by taking all that He gives us and using it to create ourselves, to make ourselves better, to achieve greatness. Any skill we have is for the purpose of נעשה אדם , of creating ourselves. Every blessing we are given in our lives is for the purpose of נעשה אדם . And every challenge and difficulty we face in our lives is presented to us for the purpose of נעשה אדם . Whenever life takes an unwanted turn, whenever we deal with adversity, we must hear Hashem calling נעשה אדם , inviting us to build ourselves through this challenge. Every challenge is our opportunity to attain greatness, to reach higher, and to "create" the very best possible version of ourselves.