When man, the crowning glory of the cosmos, approaches the world, he finds his task at hand – the task of creation. He must stand on guard over the pure, clear existence, repair the defects in the cosmos, and replenish the “privation” in being. Man, the creature, is commanded to become a partner with the Creator in the renewal of the cosmos; complete and ultimate creation – this is the deepest desire of the Jewish people...Just as the Almighty constantly refined and improved the realm of existence during the six days of creation, so must man complete that creation and transform the domain of chaos and void into a perfect and beautiful reality.
[Lawrence Kaplan]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways are continuing the work of creation?
2. This model assumes not the world is finished and broken, but rather that it is unfinished. How does this speak to the common feeling that our actions don't make any real change?
3. What social justice themes emerge from this text?
Time Period: Contemporary (The Yom Kippur War until the present-day)