Reply To: R' Jonathan Sacks

I read through the sefer on the Parsha over Shabbos, and I really enjoyed it! He gives an explanation regarding tzelem Elokim that I’ve never heard before:

He brings the question Rashi brings about why did the Torah begin with creation, and not the first mitzvah? He then says that when man was created b’tzelem Elokim, it can’t refer to the way we look, as Hashem has no body. He says that it refers to something that we Share with Hashem that no other creatures do – the ability to rise above nature and instinct, and have our own free will. He then quotes the Rambam that says that without free will, there can be no reward or punishment for doing right or wrong.

Therefore, the Torah begins with creation to tell us that we are b’tzelem Elokim, and it’s our choice to follow the mitzvos or not. Once that is established, it can then tell us how to live our lives, with it being our option to follow it or not.