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Man is suited to resemble his Creator, and through this he achieves the secret of the higher form, <i>tzelem</i> and <i>demut</i>. If he were to resemble physically, but not in his actions, he would be making the form into a lie. They would say of him, “This is a pleasant form, but ugly deeds.” The essence of the higher <i>tzelem</i> and <i>demut</i> is in His actions, and of what good is it to be like the higher form, the form of His “limbs”, and to not resemble his Creator in his actions? Therefore, it would be suitable for a person to resemble the acts of <i>Keter</i>, which are the thirteen higher attributes of mercy, hinted in Michah 7:18-20, “Who is a powerful G-d like You …” And now we will explain those thirteen deeds which one should possess. |
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<b>1. “Who is a powerful G-d like You”</b> This teaches that G-d is a shamed King, bearing incalculable shame. Without doubt, nothing is hidden from His oversight, and there is no moment when a person is not nourished and supported by the higher force that flows upon him, so that there was never a person who sinned against G-d without G-d, at that very instant, flowing into him his existence and his ability to move his limbs. Even though this person sins with that force, G-d does not withhold it at all. G-d endures this shame, flowing into the person the power for his limbs to move, and the person using that power at that moment for sin and iniquity, and to anger G-d, and G-d endures it patiently … Even though He has the power to withdraw that flowing force, and He should have said, “Since you sin against Me, sin with your own strength, not with Mine,” He does not withhold good from a person for this. Instead, He endures the shame and flows strength and gives a person of His goodness... This is the meaning of, “Who is a powerful G-d like You” – You are a powerful G-d, giving and benefiting, and a powerful G-d, with strength to take revenge and take back what is Yours, and yet You bear and are shamed until the person repents. This is a trait one must follow, meaning patience and being shamed, even to this extent, and yet not to withhold one’s aid from the recipient. |
