Chapter 1

דעו כי ה׳ הוא אלקים הוא עשנו
ולו אנחנו עמו וצאן מרעיתו

“Know1 that the L-rd [Havayah] is G-d [Elokim Mightiest of all]; He has made us and we are His, His people and the sheep of His pasture.”2

R.

Avraham Ibn Ezra explains the verse thus: We should be aware that only G-d is G-d, and that we are His people. Rashi explains: He created us when we did not yet exist on this world. Metzudas Dovid explains the words “[He] is Elokim” to mean that G-d is able to do all.3 He takes the words “He has made us” to mean that G-d made us great and exalted. Metzudas Dovid interprets the words “we are His” to mean that we are the only nation to be called “His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”

From the above-mentioned commentators we learn that the verse instructs us to know that only G-d is G-d; G-d is able to do all; He created us when we did not yet exist on this world; He made us to be His people; He made us great and exalted.

We must understand what is meant by “only G-d is G-d.” It goes without saying that “only G-d is G-d.” It is also a truism “G-d is able to do all.” These matters are obvious, and felt by all people. We must also understand Rashi ’s comment that “He created us when we did not yet exist on this world.” If we did not yet exist, how was it that He had already made us? Conversely, since He did make us, it would seem that we were already in existence.

Reflecting more deeply upon this verse, we see that it seeks to indicate that knowing that He alone is G-d, able to do all, and that He made us before we existed on this world, are all prerequisites to knowing that “we are His, His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

We must also understand the meaning of the Torah verse:4 “You have been shown to know that Havayah is HoElokim…” [with the Hebrew letter hay preceding the Divine name]. It is also written:5 “Know this day and take unto your heart that Havayah is Elokim….” Also, in the prayer recited by Eliyahu the prophet at the altar on Mt. Carmel it is written:6 “Answer me O L-rd, answer me; so that this nation may know that You are Havayah HoElokim.” In the thankful acknowledgment of the Jewish people wherein they all declared G-d’s unity, the verse states:7 “And the whole nation beheld and fell on their faces, saying: ‘Havayah is HoElokim, Havayah is HoElokim.’” In this verse [the verse at the beginning of the discourse] it states: “Know that Havayah is Elokim.” We must understand the difference between HoElokim with a hay, and Elokim without the hay.

The Hebrew word v’lo (“and we are His”) is written with an aleph and read with a vov. [V’lo with an aleph means “and not,” while v’lo with a vov means “and to Him.”] Midrash Rabbah8 explains the verse according to both variations: “Rabbi Yehudah b’Rav Simun says: ‘Know that G-d alone is G-d. He has made us and we have not created our own lives.’ Rabbi Acha says: ‘Know that G-d alone is G-d. To Him we dedicate our lives.’ ”

Rabbi Yehudah’s comment is according to the written version of v’lo with an aleph (“and not”), while Rabbi Acha’s comment is according to the oral version with a vov (“and to Him”). Both, however, are in accord regarding the meaning of the beginning of the verse: that we are to know that Havayah is Elokim. Upon knowing this, we come to realize the we, the Jewish nation, are “His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

In summary: What is the meaning of Havayah is Elokim? a) G-d alone is G-d. b) G-d is able to do all. What is the meaning of “He created us when we did not yet exist on this world”? In the Torah and in the acknowledgment at Mt. Carmel, the verse states: “Havayah is HoElokim (with a hay).” Here it is written: “Havayah is Elokim [without the hay].” The written and oral version of the term v’lo is explained in the Midrash by Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbi Acha.