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What does it mean to 'believe' in God's existence, and why is this relevant to daily Jewish life? The shiur redefines emunah (אמונה) not as intellectual belief but as constantly certifying God's reality through our actions, particularly chesed (חסד). This transforms us from egocentric to theocentric beings, gives us absolute worth derived from God's reality, and connects us to ultimate truth through emulating the divine attribute of kindness.
Rabbi Zweig begins his series on Maimonides' thirteen principles of faith by examining the fundamental question of what it means to 'believe' in God. He challenges the English understanding of belief as something less than knowledge, arguing that the first principle requires absolute knowledge, not mere belief. The first principle states that God is the creator and ruler of all things, upon whom all existence depends, while His existence is completely independent of everything else. The rabbi addresses several profound philosophical difficulties with this principle. First, he questions what relevance this seemingly abstract philosophical truth has for practical Jewish life. Second, he explores the meaning of 'belief' versus 'knowledge' - arguing that if we only 'believe' God exists (implying uncertainty), this creates an empty foundation for religious practice. Third, he examines Nachmanides' challenge to Maimonides: how can belief in God be a mitzvah (מצוה) when knowledge of God's existence must precede any divine commandment? Finally, he asks how belief in God can be an ongoing mitzvah if it's something we either know or don't know.
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