No community start suggestion yet.
What is the mitzvah (מצוה) of belief in God—philosophical knowledge or relationship? The Rambam (רמב"ם) defines emunah (אמונה) as understanding God's absolute existence, while the Smag focuses on "Anochi Hashem (ה׳) Elokecha asher hotzeisicha mei'eretz Mitzrayim." God's anthropomorphic appearances at Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah (תורה) teach that emunah means cultivating an emotional connection with a God we can relate to, not merely affirming His existence.
The shiur analyzes the mitzvah (מצוה) of belief in God as articulated by the Rishonim, focusing on Parshas Yisro and the first of the Aseres HaDibros. According to the Rambam (רמב"ם), the mitzvah is to know that God exists as the absolute foundation of all existence—nothing can exist without Him, and His existence is independent of everything else. This is derived from "Anochi Hashem (ה׳) Elokecha" in the Ten Commandments and represents a philosophical understanding of God's nature. The Smag, however, includes the continuation of the verse: "Anochi Hashem Elokecha asher hotzeisicha mei'eretz Mitzrayim—I am the Lord your God who took you out of Egypt." This raises a fundamental question: why does the mitzvah specify "who took you out of Egypt"? God could have identified Himself as Creator of the universe or through countless other attributes. Why limit the definition to the Exodus from Egypt?
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Up Next in this Series
Why does Rashi give conflicting descriptions of Israel's leaders in Egypt? The shiur explores how two different leadership styles emerged: those who pushed people to work harder while taking beatings, versus those who simply absorbed punishment to spare their people. The Torah prioritizes the first type - leaders who accomplish things even when unpopular.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Yisro, Shemos 20:2
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
