An in-depth analysis of the philosophical challenges of belief in God as a commandment, examining the fundamental difference between intellectual knowledge of God's existence and making that belief a living reality in one's consciousness.
This shiur explores the profound philosophical and practical dimensions of the first of Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith - belief in God's existence. Rabbi Zweig begins by presenting a fundamental philosophical paradox: How can there be a commandment to believe in God when one must already believe God exists in order to accept any commandment from Him? This creates a logical impossibility where belief must precede the very commandment that establishes that belief. The discussion contrasts two major approaches to understanding emunah (אמונה) (faith). According to Maimonides (Rambam (רמב"ם)), the mitzvah (מצוה) of belief primarily involves recognizing God as creator and ruler of all existence, understanding that our existence is contingent upon His, and that we are created beings rather than the center of the universe. This philosophical recognition transforms one's worldview by removing the self from the center of existence. According to Nachmanides (Ramban (רמב"ן)), however, belief in God requires not only recognizing His existence but also accepting our role as His subjects with obligations to serve Him. This interpretation is supported by the wording of the first commandment: "I am the Lord your God who took you out of Egypt," which establishes not just God's existence but His authority over the Jewish people through the act of redemption from slavery. Rabbi Zweig analyzes Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary on the first commandment, which offers two explanations for why the Torah (תורה) mentions the Exodus: either to establish our obligation to God as our redeemer, or to clarify that the same God who appeared as a warrior in Egypt now appears as a compassionate elder at Sinai. These interpretations reflect the broader debate between the Rambam and Ramban's approaches. The shiur addresses the constant nature of the mitzvah of emunah, explaining that belief is not a one-time intellectual acknowledgment but an ongoing process of making God's existence a living reality in one's consciousness. The true mitzvah is not merely knowing that God exists intellectually, but integrating this knowledge so deeply that it becomes an intuitive part of how one perceives and responds to the world. Using the example of Abraham's discovery of monotheism, Rabbi Zweig explains that the difficulty was not intellectual - the logical argument that every effect must have a cause was accessible to anyone. Rather, the challenge was psychological: accepting such an argument requires abandoning one's position as the center of the universe and acknowledging a reality beyond one's direct perception and control. The shiur concludes by emphasizing that emunah involves a fundamental transformation of consciousness, where belief in God becomes not just something one knows, but something that governs one's immediate reactions and worldview, making it a constant and dynamic spiritual endeavor rather than a static intellectual position.
An introduction to the first chapter of Ramchal's Derech HaShem, covering six fundamental principles about God's nature and existence, including the difference between emunah (internalization) and yedi'ah (knowledge).
An introductory class to studying the Ramchal's Derech Hashem, covering the author's life, his major works (Mesilat Yesharim, Derech Hashem, Da'at Tevunot), and the philosophical foundations that will guide the series.
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