Elokim

B"H

Sometimes it seems like that there exists a basic misconception about the word ELOKIM. Unfortunately, especially this Name of G - d has been misused for negative purposes such as missionizing Jews. However, many other people including Jews do have a problem with seeing G - d as without any form. Our human understanding consists of touching, smelling or seeing things and in case we fail to do so, we are unable of comprehending anything else.

Another example is understanding the concept of complete nothingness before the creation process. There was only G - d and a great nothingness, and one might think by mistake that nothingness means universe. But nothingness means only nothingness without any universe, thought, speech and action.

G - d is infinite and He always existed and will do forever. When He created us He gave us a limited human intellect (especially after the sin of Adam HaRishon) and therefore it is understandable that some people might have difficulties understanding G - d's whole existence.

The Kabbalah teaches us that we are unable of grasping G - d at all and the only thing we can do is seeing Him through His actions and attributes. The kabbalistic term is "Sefirot".

It says in the Torah that G - d created man in His image. What does it mean "in His image" ? Do we look like G - d now or does He have a human shape ?

Not at all. The Rambam in his "Guide of the Perplexed (Moreh Nevuchim), Rabbi Chaim Luzzatto and Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (student of the Vilna Gaon) in his book "Nefesh Chaim" explain what it means being created in G - d's image. And I am only mentioning here a few great Jewish philosophers and kabbalists. Of course, there is much more to say about the subject and I am planning to do so in later article.

Especially the Rambam (Maimonides) explains all the details right at the beginning of his Guide of the Perplexed. "G - d's image" means that we are created with an intellect and a conscious which other beings such as plants and animals do not have. Or have you ever seen an animal feeling mercy for you and sharing its food with a starving human being ? Well, I just know one animal like this which was called LASSIE (a TV series I could not stand).

"And G - d said: Let US make man".

Usually we understand the word US as plural. The Gemara in Talmud Sanhedrin asks why G - d created mankind only on the sixth day and not at the beginning of the creation process.
The answer is very easy. He did not want that people later on claim that mankind helped Him in creation.

But why does He say: Let US make man ?

First we have to understand His Name Elokim in order to get a clearer picture.

The name ELOKIM is not in plural, as some people might claim. Whoever does so, misinterprets the whole Torah. People who know Hebrew see it very clearly, as the verb always following the word Elokim is written in singular. Elokim created (singular) the world etc. Elokim did this and that and the verb is always singular.

But what exactly is Elokim ?

We usually interpret this Name of G - d as the judging G - d. However, Elokim includes all His internal powers when He does something. With all His powers he created man = Let us make man. Each of his power has a certain influence and all powers together led to the creation process.

His powers expressed in the Sefirot and mentioned in the Torah are not the only ones He has. As an infinite being with unlimited powers He probably has many more powers and attributes we do not even know in our physical world.