God is One

Positive Commandment #2. Our souls second order of business.

Installment #2 of my series on the Commandments of the Torah.

It is essential for the soul to recognize God's existence, as discussed in Installment #1 of this series. Today we will seek to understand God's nature. This means contemplating God from an ontological perspective as the ultimate creator and source of all existence.

The source of this commandment comes from Deuteronomy 6, we read,

The Stone Edition Chumash,¹ explains the above verse as follows:

“We may perceive God in many ways - He is kind, angry, merciful, wise, judgmental - and these apparently contradictory manifestations convinced some ancient and medieval philosophers that there must be many gods, one of mercy, one of judgment, and so on. But the Torah says that HaShem (HaShem means “The Name.” It is a circumlocution used by faithful Jews to avoid taking the name of God in vain and violating the commandment that says, “Thou shalt not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.”) is the One and Only - there is an inner harmony for all that He does, though human intelligence cannot comprehend what it is. This, too, will be understood at the End of Days, when God’s ways are illuminated. R’Gedaliah Schorr likened this concept to a ray of light seen through a prism. though the viewer sees a myriad of different colors, it is a single ray of light. So too, God’s many manifestations are truly One.”²

Deuteronomy 6:4 is referred to as the Shema. It is the beginning verse of the quintessential prayer and statement of faith in Judaism. Usually, it is repeated twice a day upon waking and going to sleep. This concise statement is of such importance to the Jewish people that it is recited as the concluding prayer of Yom Kippur, and is often the final words spoken by Jews before they pass away. The Shema encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism.³

Most adherents of Universal Christianity do not realize that Jesus, the most famous Jew on record, affirms the traditional Jewish understanding of the Shema. Let me provide two examples.

We read in Mark 12, beginning in vs. 28,⁴

“One of the scholars heard them arguing and drew near to them. He saw that he (Jesus) answered them well, and he (the scholar) asked him, “What is the first of all of the mitzvot (commandments)?” Jesus answered him,

The first of all the mitzvot is: “Hear, O Israel, HaShem is our God; HaShem is One.”

In another instance, recorded in Luke chapter 10, beginning in verse 25, an expert in the Law asks Jesus, “Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replies, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it? He said, “Love HaShem your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength - and your fellow as yourself.” He said to him, “You have answered well. Do this and live.”⁵

In both recorded cases above, Jesus affirms the definitive Jewish statement of faith as well as confirms the primary purpose of our soul’s existence. To know that God exists and that He is One. In other words, to know Him and know about Him.

“The Sages also called this mitzvah "Kingdom," saying that [the paragraph Shema is read before V'haya] "in order to accept upon oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven," i.e., to acknowledge and comprehend His Unity." ⁶

In Judaism, “taking upon the yoke of the Kingdom” refers to a person being wholly dedicated to the service of God and advancing His ways in the world. To accomplish such a task, the soul must first Know that He exists and acquire knowledge about the nature of His existence.

Discussing the ontological nature of God is difficult. Whereas ontology seeks to classify entities and explain them, the metaphysical reality of God makes this task quite difficult. Thus, how are we to know about God?

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto tackles this very issue in his masterpiece titled Derech HaShem (The Way of God); he writes,⁷

🖋 Every Jew must believe and know that there exists a first Being, without beginning or end, who brought all things into existence and continues to sustain them. This Being is God.

🖋 It is furthermore necessary to know that God’s true nature cannot be understood at all by any being other than Himself. The only thing that we know about Him is that He is perfect in every possible way and devoid of every conceivable deficiency.

🖋 These things are known by tradition from the Patriarchs and prophets. With the revelation at Sinai, all Israel perceived them and gained a clear grasp of their true nature. They then taught them to their children, generation after generation, until this very day.

🖋 Moshe had thus commanded them (Devarim 4:9), “You shall not forget the things that you saw with your own eyes…and you shall make them known to your children and to your children’s children.

🖋 These concepts can also be logically verified by demonstratable proofs. Their veracity can be demonstrated from what we observe in nature and its phenomena.

The book the Way of God is a systematic treatment of the fundamental principles of Judaism, including the nature of God, the purpose of creation, and the role of human beings in the world.

Luzzatto begins by explaining the concept of God as the ultimate cause and source of all existence and the importance of recognizing and serving Him. He then goes on to discuss the nature of the universe and the role of human beings within it, emphasizing the importance of living a life of virtue and righteousness.

Derech HaShem also explores the concept of divine providence, or the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of the world and guides events for the ultimate good. It discusses the role of suffering and challenges in human life, and the importance of faith and trust in God.

Overall, The Way of God is a comprehensive and thought-provoking work that provides a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of Judaism and offers guidance on how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. Whether you are Christian, Jewish, or have no religion at all, Derech HaShem offers excellent insights into the Jewish understanding of God's ontological nature, helping us fulfill the second commandment.

Know and understand that God is One.

Have a great day! Stay sharp. Pray. Be ready.

Ty

If you enjoyed this perspective, would you consider asking one of your friends to subscribe to my substack? Thank you. I am trying to build a community of like-minded individuals by sharing relevant information on various subjects like COVID, America, Patriotism, Faith, and Spirituality.

1. The Stone Edition Chumash is known for its concise, easy-to-read translation of the text and its extensive commentary provides background information and explanations of the biblical text. Jewish communities and individuals often use it as a study aid and reference work.

2. Scherman, Nosson. The Chumash: The Stone Edition, Full Size (ArtScroll) (English and Hebrew Edition) The Torah: Haftaros and Five Megillos with a Commentary Anthologized from the Rabbinic Writings. Eleventh Edition. Mesorah Pubns Ltd, 1993.

3. In its entirety, the Shema consists of three paragraphs: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Deuteronomy 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41.

4. David, Vine Of. The Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels a Hebrew English Translation. Vine of David, 2022.

5. Ibid.,

6. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/940227/jewish/Positive-Commandment-2.htm#footnote2a940227

7. Luzzatto, Moshe Hayyim, Aryeh Kaplan, and Gershon Robinson. Derekh Hashem  The Way of God (Torah Classics Library). 5th ed. Feldheim Publishers, 1997. pg. 31