New Book Offers Radical Interpretation of Human Creation
A new book, "Covenant and Metaphysics" by Lyon Cherniak and Mitchell Rocklin, proposes a novel interpretation of the creation of humanity, suggesting that God created humans not in His image, but as His image. The authors argue that the biblical phrase "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness" can be translated as "Let us create man as our image" or "Let us create man as our image." This implies that God, who was previously without a discernible form, only acquired His image or face through the creation of humankind.
This interpretation challenges traditional theological understandings. The book posits that God, referred to as Ein Sof (the Infinite) in Kabbalah, is fundamentally without form. The authors suggest that God's greatest existential challenge was His own lack of an image. Therefore, the creation of man was a collaborative act where God, in essence, asked humanity to be His face and form, making humanity sacred precisely because it is a creation, a mortal and physical being, rather than a fragment of divine spirit.
The authors' perspective draws from various interpretations of creation found in the Midrash "Bereishit Rabba." While some interpretations suggest God consulted with existing creations or His own heart, the book focuses on the idea that God consulted with the souls of the righteous, implying a partnership in creation. This aligns with Kabbalistic teachings of Adam Kadmon, a pre-human form represented by the ten divine qualities, the Sefirot. However, the book distinguishes between the Sefirot and Ein Sof, emphasizing that Ein Sof itself remains beyond human comprehension and form.
The book's publisher, "Mahanayim," has recently released the work. The authors' interpretation is presented as a way to understand how the "Unlikenable" could create something in its likeness, suggesting that the absence of God's image is not merely a theoretical concept but a core existential characteristic. The book aims to resolve the paradox of creating from a state of formlessness.
