In Pirke Avot (Teachings of our Ancestors) 3:18, Rabbi Akiva taught, “Beloved is the human for we were created in the image of God; it is indicative of an even greater love that it was made known to people that we were created in the image of God.” What is Akiva trying to say, what’s the difference between being created in the image of God and knowing that we are, and how can that help us cope? For Akiva, being in the “image of God” means, first of all, that all of us have amazing capacities (whether we realize them or not) for goodness, for striving to be worthy of the Divine. Second, it means that all people are intrinsically worthy, again, regardless of whether or not they live up to that worth. Third, no one is more or less in God’s image. Therefore, everyone’s soul — even the people we disagree with, even people who are acting in what we believe are abhorrent ways, even ourselves on days when we hate ourselves — is precious. To be clear, this doesn’t mean all behaviors are ok; indeed, hurting others is even worse in this light, because it is an attack not only on fellow human beings but on God.

This can be quite a challenge, because it means acknowledging the shared humanity of even those we despise. But trying to act as if even that despised person is created in the image of God can sometimes shift things in both us and them. Furthermore, it can also be tremendously empowering, because, as Ethel Waters said, “I am somebody, because God don’t make no junk.” Which brings us to Akiva’s point about knowing our inherent divine image. When we love someone, that love should bring blessings to their life, just by being lived in action. But often, it’s not enough to be loved — we need to be told that we are loved. Armed with that knowledge, we can persevere through almost anything.Knowing we (and the people we disagree with) are created in God’s image also helps prevent us from doing the opposite — trying to shape God into our image. When we do that, we justify all sorts of awful behavior. As Anne Lamont says, “You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people as you do.” So give it a try — on a bad day, look into the mirror and say, “I am created in the image of God.” When someone is driving you crazy, tell yourself, “they too were created in the image of God,” even if you have trouble believing it. And, especially on Shabbat, see if there is one more step, one act of Hesed, you can take to rise closer to the Divine inhering in your soul.