Parshat Bereishit - G-d's Image
by Rabbi Lobel

“This is the account of the descendants of Adam - On the day of G-d's creating Man, He (G-d) made him in the likeness of G-d (Genesis 5:1).”

“Love thy neighbor as yourself” Rebbe Akiva says. “This is a great rule in the Torah.” Ben Azai says, “This is the accounts of the descendants of Adam . . . is even a greater rule.” Rebbe Akiva's verse only says, one should not do onto his neighbor what he does not like. What if one does not care for his own honor? Then, maybe Rebbe Akiva's rule would not apply. Ben Azai's verse says that even if one does not like himself he must still love his neighbor because he was created in likeness of G-d, G-d's image. (Daas Zekeinim Genesis 5:1)

Even if a person can’t see the beauty within himself, he may still be able to recognize the positive virtues in others because they were created in G-d's image. That one fact could help someone love humanity and his neighbor.

And just as a person can recognize that others were created in G-d’s image, so, too, can he learn to appreciate that he was created in G-d’s image as well.

We can uplift ourselves by seeing how special our neighbors are.