מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, ובִלְשׁוֹן הָרַמְבַּ"ם "לֵידַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מָצוּי רִאשׁוֹן מַמְצִיא כָל נִמְצָא כו' וִידִיעַת דָּבָר זֶה מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלוֹקֶיךָ", הִיא מִצְוַת הַמּוֹחַ וְהַשֵּׂכֶל, וְהַיְנוּ דַהֲגַם דְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הוּא מַאֲמִין בַּה' בֶּאֱמוּנָה פְּשׁוּטָה וּלְבָבוֹ תָּמִים עִם ה', חוֹבַת הַמּוֹחַ וְהַשֵּׂכֶל לְהָבִיא אֱמוּנָה זוֹ בִּידִיעָה וַהֲשָׂגָה, וְזֶהוּ "לֵידַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מָצוּי רִאשׁוֹן", עֶר זאָל דאָס וִויסעֶן בַּהֲשָׂגָה וַהֲבָנָה דַוְקָא, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב דַּע אֶת אֱלֹקֵי אָבִיךָ וְעָבְדֵהוּ בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, וּכְתִיב וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם גו'.

The first positive commandment1 is, according to the wording of Rambam,2 “To know that there is a Primary Being who brings into being all existence… Knowing this concept [fulfills] a positive commandment, as it is written,3 ‘I am G‑d, your L‑rd.’ “

This mitzvah centers on the brain and the mind. Although every single Jew believes in G‑d with simple faith and his heart is wholly and artlessly with G‑d, the brain and mind are obligated to bring this faith to the point of knowledge and comprehension.4

This is what is meant by the obligation “to know that there is a Primary Being.” One must know this in terms of comprehension and understanding, as it is written,5 “Know the G‑d of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly.” It is likewise written,6 “And you shall know this day… [that G‑d is the L‑rd].”

Delving Deeply

When R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev came home from Mezritch, where he studied at the feet of the Maggid, his father-in-law asked him what he had learned there.

“I learned that G‑d exists,” he replied.

“But even the gentile maid knows that!”

“She says it, but I know it.”

A Jew believes in G‑d by virtue of the essential Divinity within his soul. Because his soul is “an actual part of G‑d,”7 his identification with G‑dliness is intrinsic, an inherent element of his being. It is possible, however, that this awareness will not be sufficiently integrated and internalized to affect his daily thoughts and conduct.

As the Sages have said,8 “A burglar prays to G‑d at the threshold of a break-in.” He believes in G‑d — otherwise he would not pray — but his belief is so far removed from his everyday thinking that he is able to act in direct opposition to G‑d’s will.

Knowing G‑d means internalizing our belief, aligning our conscious thought with our inner G‑dly potential.