Sages, philosophers, and writers have searched for centuries to understand the reason for human existence and the meaning of life. In What Is the Purpose of Creation?, Michael Alter has gathered a wealth of material addressing this question. Selections from the Tanakh (the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings), the Oral Law (the Mishnah and the Talmud), the Apocryhpha, the Midrash, and the works of many prominent Jewish thinkers of the past 2,000 years reflect different perspectives on humanity’s place within the universe and its relationship with God.