July 29, 2021 / 20 Menachem Av, 5781 • Parshat Eikev
Issue 677
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

Imitating G-d

Moses tells the Jewish people to safeguard the commandments, perform them properly, and "walk in all G-d’s ways":

Deuteronomy 11:22


The sages of the Talmud explain that the phrase "walk in all his ways" means that we are intended to imitate G-d’s goodness. “Just as He is merciful, so should you be merciful; just as He performs acts of loving-kindness, so should you perform acts of loving-kindness.”

But inasmuch as G-d’s goodness is infinite, how can we be expected to imitate Him?

The answer is that it is for this very reason that G-d created us in His image. As such, we indeed possess G-d’s infinite potential to do good.

—from Daily Wisdom #1