A Place For Everyone At The Table...We Are All Created B'tzelem Elohim

We Are All Made בצלם אלהים Btzelem Elohim

This past weekend I worked with approximately 150 children and their educators at Temple Israel Center (TIC) in White Plains New York on a special project celebrating and learning about inclusion and the connection with the concept of being made B'tzelem Elohim (In God's Image).  

For this project students studied three Jewish texts that teach us about being made in God's image, and importantly, what this means for us as humans--what are our responsibilities to ourselves, our planet, our neighbors?  

Text One:

 And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.' 27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created him; male and female created He them. 28 And God blessed them; and God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that lives on the earth.‘    -Genesis 1:26-1:28

Text Two:

(Rabbi Akiva)would say, ‘Human beings are beloved because they were created in the image of God. It is an even greater love that this was made know to humanity, as it says, "and in the image of God were people created."-Mishnah Pirkei Avot 3:14 

Text Three:

Rabbi Hama, son of Rabbi Hanina, said: What does the Torah mean when it says: “You shall walk in the ways of the Lord(Deuteronomy 13:5).”  Can a person really walk in the shadow of God?  Rather, it means that you should imitate the ways of God… Just as God visits the sick, so you too should visit the sick.  Just as God comforts those who are sad, so you too should comfort those who are sad.   --Babylonian Talmud, Sota 14a

Each text presents a different perspective, and we used them to layer our conversation to come up with what it means to be made in God's image. We talked about being stewards of our environment, about including and loving all people, no matter how different they are, and about how being made in God's imge is not about how we look but about how we act.    

Then I taught students how to use watercolor resist using oil pastels and watercolor paint, and they created self portraits that showed how they were uniquely made in God's image.  

Student portraits included images of themselves taking care of animals, being kind to their friends, planting trees, painting, dancing, playing sports, reading and doing math amongst other things.  

They were able to demonstrate their uniqueness in a way that celebrated themselves along with God and creation.  It was a beautiful thing.  

Once the study and art creation was complete, I gathered all the artwork together and began the two day process of transforming this table into a complete work of art.  

I prepared the surface for our work (and used a hand sander for the first time!)

I cut out each and every piece of artwork, so that I could layer the self portraits and their details in an appealing way.  then I began laying out the images.  

I designed the table so that no matter which angle you approached it from, the faces would always be looking at you.  

I layered the self portraits and the special details, and used Mod Podge to seal them on the table.

I used acrylic paint to paint the sides and fill in the gaps where the artwork did not overlap.

And then, based on the conversations and text study, I used paint pens (Liquitex has some amazing ones) to detail the edges with the students' own words on the meaning of being made B'tzelem Elohim.

Here are some final close up pictures before the table gets its acrylic table top (for protection).  This table will live in this alcove, with the benches, for learners and community members to use and enjoy for many years to come.

I had an amazing time working with this community.  Thanks for having me Temple Israel Center!