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Alon Goshen-Gotteschien, "Creation," Contemporary Religious Thought, eds. Arthur Cohen and Paul Mendes-Flohr (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1987).

 

Original Text:

Judaism sees creation as perfect and imperfect. When we consider the perfect G-d who made it [the earth] in goodness and proclaimed it to be good... we must acknowledge its perfection. But when we consider the evolutionary aspect of life, always striving to greater perfection, we must call it imperfect... This striving must be an integral part of any Jewish conception of creation- a conception that allots to humanity the responsibility for furthering the evolution of creation and bringing to completion the works of G-d.

Translation:

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What does Goshen-Gottstein mean when he writes that, “Judaism
sees creation as perfect and imperfect?”
2. In what ways does Judaism make it clear that striving for perfection is
an important aim in life?
3. If you took the idea of humanity’s responsibility to perfect the world
seriously, how would it change your life?

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Alon Goshen-Gotteschien, "Creation," Contemporary Religious Thought, eds. Arthur Cohen and Paul Mendes-Flohr (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1987).

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