Daily Mitzvah

The first mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d's existence, i.e. to understand that He is the Original cause and Source of existence Who brings all creations into being.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "I am G‑d your Lord."

[We see that this commandment is included in the total of 613 from] the end of the tractate Makkos,3 which states, "613 commandments were given to Moshe at Sinai. From which verse do we see this? — 'The Torah which was commanded to us by Moshe.' "4 This indicates [that the number of mitzvos which Moshe commanded us equals] the numerical value of the word Torah.5 The Gemara than asks, "But is this the proper numerical value? It only totals 611!" The answer was given, "The two commandments 'I am G‑d your Lord' and 'Do not have any other gods'6 were heard from G‑d directly" [and not through Moshe. They are therefore not alluded to in the word Torah in this verse, which refers only to those 611 mitzvos which were given through Moshe. It is included, however, in the total of 613.]

It is clear from this passage that "I am G‑d your Lord," i.e. knowledge of G‑d, as explained above, is counted as one of the 613 mitzvos.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Some translations render this commandment as "belief" in G‑d. However, see Kapach (5731) and Heller (note 1), who translate the Arabic word aetkad as "knowledge." See Guide to the Perplexed, Pt. I, Ch.50, for a detailed description of this term; Derech Mitzvosecha, Haamanas Elokus; On the Teachings of Chassidus, Ch. 13.

See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, Ch. 1:1-6, for details of the knowledge mandatory for fulfillment of this mitzvah.

2.

Exodus 20:2. Deut. 5:6.

3.

23b.

4.

Deut. 33:4.

5.

In the word "Torah," the tov=400, vov=6, reish=200, and hei=5.

6.

Exodus 20:3. Deut. 5:7.

The first prohibition is that we are forbidden from entertaining the thought1 that there is any deity other than G‑d.

The source of this prohibition is G‑d's 'statement'2 (although he is so exalted that the term "speech" cannot really be applied to Him), "Do not have any other gods before me."

In the end of Makkos3 it is explained that this prohibition is included among the 613 commandments, as they state there, "613 commandments were given to Moshe at Sinai." We have explained this proof in the 1st of the Positive Mitzvos.

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

See Kapach (5731), p. 181, footnote 1; who offers a literal translation, "being of the opinion."

2.

Exodus 20:3. Deut. 5:7.

3.

77b.

The 2nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d's Unity, i.e. to understand that the Original Creator and Source of all existence is One.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "Hear [i.e. "understand"] O Israel, G‑d is our Lord, G‑d is One."

In most Midrashim you will find this mitzvah described [in the context of G‑d's statement that a certain kindness was done to the Jewish people,] "on condition that they unify My Name," "on condition that they unite Me," or a similar expression. They mean to say that G‑d took us out of bondage and heaped kindness upon us upon condition that we have His Unity firmly fixed in our minds — since we are required to do so. [From this we see that knowledge of His Unity is an actual requirement, and is therefore counted as one of the 613 commandments.]

In many places the expression is used, "the mitzvah of His Unity" [the word "mitzvah" also indicating that this counts as one of the 613 commandments.]

Our Sages3 also called this mitzvah "Kingdom," saying that [the paragraph Shema is read before V'haya] "in order to accept upon oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven," i.e. to acknowledge and comprehend His Unity.4

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

See footnote 1.
See Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah, Ch. 1:7, for details of the knowledge mandatory for fulfillment of this mitzvah. See also, Guide to the Perplexed, Pt. I, Ch.50-69.

2.

Deut. 6:4.

3.

See Berachos 13a; 61b.

4.

It has been suggested that the Rambam's intention is as follows: The Talmud could have given the reason, "in order to fulfill the mitzvah of reciting the Shema." The phrase, "Kingdom of Heaven" stresses the additional significance of Shema, in that it also involves the mitzvah of Unity. See Rif Perlo, Vol. I, p. 71a.