E Pluribus Unum: One from the Many

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E Pluribus Unum

The giving of the Torah at Sinai is associated in many ways with the number three. How does this plurality lead us to true oneness?

By Shais Taub

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9 Comments

Nat three rivers, CA May 22, 2012

To previous anonymous comment No, e pluribus unum means "out of many, one" and not "out of one, many." Trust me, I know Latin. Reply

Anonymous pittsburgh, pa May 21, 2012

E Pluribus Unum means "out of one many" Reply

yosef portland, or USA June 12, 2011

trinity the Christians are trying to explain something they were taught, Adam was told to name the animals, naming denotes mastery, I tell Christians, you don't name Him, your kids don't name you do they? Naming G-d is trying to exercise dominion over G-d, that is wrong, some see it some don't. Reply

Pedro Matzer June 1, 2011

Kabalah& Numerology Basic Numerology Cristians don`t have the francise on the number 3 and remember the Torah has manny different levels of interpretation needles to Say that The All Mgihty is One and his people are 1. Thank you such intresting observation on the KPI of the number 3 for Shauvot. Reply

Laurel Bat Zion Fort Worth, TX May 30, 2009

Trinity No where in scripture, old or "new" testaments is the word "trinity" found. The trinity is a doctrine perpetrated us and our creator by the church of Rome. Go back to Deut. 6:4 and review the text. He is revealed to us in many ways but he ONE! He was and is and is to come. Reply

Leslie Campbelll Gordonville, Texas May 28, 2009

It's simple It is a Christian cultural bias to understand anything involving the number three as trinitarian. This teaching is clear and in no way trinitarian. The whole purpose of Torah involves truth as it is lived in the lives of humans. We are those humans. We are willing to receive Torah from our Creator. So that makes three, Creator, Torah ( the gift), and Creation (that's us, the recipients of the gift). How simple is that? Thanks so much, Rabbi! Reply

Anonymous Milwaukee, WI via chabadwi.org April 24, 2009

Judaism is not like Christianity As a convert, i am very familiar with the doctrine of the trinity. Christians sing in their hymn "G-d in three PERSONS, blessed trinity." They show many instances in which the Son PRAYS to the Father and then the Holy Spirit comes to him. Three distinct entities. No one prays to himself.
G-d may relate to us in many ways, but He is One. Reply

Shais Taub Milwaukee, WI July 29, 2008

Christological? Dear Chuck,

I am not a Christian theologian so I cannot claim to be expert in the Trinity doctrine. From what I am aware, however, the Trinity supposes a duality in G-d Himself.

Judaism believes in One G-d who is Unique and Singular in every way and I do not believe that anything was said in this class that would remotely indicate anything else.

The thesis/antithesis/synthesis here is Creator, creation and Torah -- NOT -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit as personages of G-d, heaven forbid.

The only similarity I see here is the number three. "Creator, creation and Torah" simply means that G-d is to be found equally in both the spiritual and material because His Will (the Torah) provides a nexus through which we may sanctify the physical. Reply

Chuck Short Columbia, SC May 17, 2007

gone too far this sounds just like christian trinity doctrine. Reply

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