Reader: "The principle of becoming" means living in imitation of God. Buber said: "This is what becoming a blessing for the other peoples means, setting an example of a true people, a community." (Biemann, cited in Buber, p. 28) The history of the Jewish people, both in the Bible and in modernity demonstrate how Jews must create a cohesive and accepting community amongst one another, and use this sense of collegiality as an example for the world. This sense of connection did not exist naturally. Even though such a sense of connection is the most pure relationship one human being can have with another human being, it requires effort. Such a state of becoming, in the false complexities of an objectifying world, means that becoming is something that must be worked upon, in the heart and soul of every Jewish person, and every human being in general when they meet other people.
             Human beings are not born complete and perfect as individuals. Rather they are born to complete the covenant of God and humanity, to complete relationships with other human beings through effort and engagement with the world the process of 'becoming' whole, and 'encountering' others. This idea of the constant need to work at creating a community underlines the fundamental principle of all of Martin Buber's writings, namely that by becoming a good person, or a religious person one must not merely focus on perfecting the self through isolated contemplation and study. Instead, a religious person must creatively engage with a community of fellow human beings and seek to establish relationships with those fellow human beings.
             For Buber, a person is only fully human when he or she is engaged with others in an I-You relationship, in imitation of the divine relationship with human
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