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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?
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Parshas Yisro, Shemos 20:2
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