| Monday | Sh'vat 19 | 5703 |
| Torah lessons: | Chumash: Yitro, Sheini with Rashi. | |
| Tehillim: 90-96. | ||
| Tanya: Hence they are (p. 93)...body to a soul. (p. 95). | ||
The first positive mitzva is, in the words of Rambam,1 "To know that there is a First Being, who caused the existence of all beings...The knowledge of this principle is a positive command, as it is said, I am the Eternal your G‑d."
This is a Mitzva relating to mind and intellect.* True, every one of Israel believes in G‑d with a simple faith, and his heart is whole with G‑d; still it is the duty of the mind and intellect to bring this faith to a level of knowledge and comprehension. This is the meaning of "To know that there is a First Being;" the Mitzva specifies comprehension and intellectual grasp, as written in Torah: "Know the G‑d of your father and serve Him with a whole heart"2 and it is also written, "know this day etc."3
