Torah Study > Chapter 2: B'Tzelem Elohim > Text 3
Try to explain the logic behind the two positions. What do you think
these two sages are arguing over?
What principle do you think they are interested in clarifying?
How are these principles different? How are they similar?
What are the ramifications of what each rabbi is saying? What is the
societal impact of each position?
Akiba and Ben Azzai, two contemporaries who often challenged each others’ claims, were trying to reduce the Torah to one compact principle that could guide a person throughout his or her life. Akiva uses self, and therefore self-interest, as the key principle: “love your neighbor,” is to mean that we behave toward our neighbors as we would want them to behave to us. It is pragmatic and realistic, yielding laudable outcomes. But inspiring? It is a form of a social contract, an “I-scratch your-back-and-you-scratch-mine” approach to life. It gets a good job done but keeps its adherents planted firmly, and only, on the ground.
Ben Azzai, on the other hand, uses the image of God as the key principle of human existence. We tend to the needs of others, not in the hope that others will tend to our needs, but because it is the sacred thing to do. Self interest plays no role here. We create and fashion and serve as stewards because that is what God does.
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Which principle do you prefer?
There are no right answers here—sharing that with students may help to
open up the discussion. The benefits of adopting Ben Azzai’s view is that
one is lifted beyond the mundane bounds of earthly existence through
acts of human imagination and kindness. The benefits of adopting Rabbi
Akiva’s view is that it is more accessible and more utilitarian. I know what
I want, and I hardly know what being in the image of God means. If I live
this way, and others do too, we just might all get along.
The impulse to reduce all spiritual teachings into one bite-sized saying has
parallels in other religions as well. Jainism is a religion that originated in
India in the 6th century. It is practiced by about 5 million people today and
teaches that charity and good works help a believer accumulate merit.
Jainism has a teaching that echos the Biblical phrase “Love thy neighbor as
thyself.” Jainists say, “One should treat all beings as he himself would want
to be treated.” (Agamas Sutrakritanga 1.10.13)
Is there any value to the concept of b’tzelem Elohim if you do not
believe in God?
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