It is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord” (Deuteronomy 4:39). Some philosophers try to use this verse to prove that one must know God philosophically. The Rebbe said that this is absolutely false and there is a reference which states that this interpretation was first used by the Karaites.322A breakaway sect of Judaism founded in the ninth century, which adheres only to the word of the Written Torah and rejects the Oral Torah as law. The truth is that the only way to know God is through faith. This is the only path to knowledge and perception of God’s true greatness. Thus, it is written, “And I will betroth you to me with faith, and you shall know God” (Hosea 2:22).
In Likutey Halakhot, there is also a long discussion explaining clearly that true knowledge of God comes only through faith (Likutey Halakhot, Giluach 3:8 ff).
Many verses tell us to know God. It is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord” (Deuteronomy 4:39). It is also written, “Know the God of your father” (I Chronicles 28:9). There is also, “Know that God is the Lord” (Psalms 100:3). None of these verses have anything to do with philosophy. Their lesson is that we should constantly know that God is there and not forget Him for an instant (cf. Sefer HaChinukh 25).
Great kings remind their subjects constantly to know that they have a ruler. This is especially true of their soldiers. They are continuously trained to know who is their lord and king. His fear must be on their faces (Exodus 20:17) in order that they serve him completely.
A king’s subjects are constantly told, “Know that you have a lord and master.” They are not told to philosophize about it, but to keep it in mind and not forget it. They are told to always think of the king and not do anything against his will.
The same is true of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are told, “Know the God of your father! Know and do not forget! Know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord! Know that God is the Lord!”
We must be reminded of this many times. We might know that “God is the Lord,” but a host of worldly temptations and distractions are at work to make us forget this. Most people hardly ever think about God.
The Torah therefore reminds us, “Know that God is the Lord! Know the God of your father! Take this into your heart and mind, until it is tightly bound up there every instant!” Therefore, it is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord.” The main perfection of knowledge is binding your mind to your heart (see “His Wisdom” #39). Then you know “in your heart that God is the Lord.” When this enters your heart, you will certainly gain a deep awe of God and will not sin.
We cannot write further about this, since every person’s knowledge of God must enter the gates of his own heart (see “His Wisdom” #1). The more these are open, the more he will understand our words.
There are no biblical verses that teach us to know God through human speculation built on confused sophistry. Heaven forbid! The only way to know God is the way taught by our holy forefathers, who struggled all their lives for Him. They divested themselves of all worldly matters, totally subjugating every desire and emotion. Above all, they achieved total mastery of their sexual drives and so released themselves from the bondage of the root of evil. Consequently, they were able to perfect their intellect and truly recognize their Creator. This is the heritage they bequeathed to us.
It is our duty to accept this heritage with joy. Therefore, we say in our prayers, “Happy are we! How good is our portion! How pleasant is our lot! How beautiful is our heritage!”323Morning prayers, LeOlam Yehei Adam ("Man should always be God-fearing"), found in Tanna DeVei Eliyahu Rabbah 21. The main lesson of these verses is that we take this holy knowledge into our minds, bring it into our hearts and bind it there constantly, in order that His fear will be on our faces so that we sin not (Exodus 20:17).
אָמַר: שֶׁאִיתָא בְּסֵפֶר אֶחָד. שֶׁמַּה שֶּׁמּוּבָא בְּסִפְרֵי הַמְחַקְּרִים, רְאָיָה שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לַחֲקֹר, מִפָּסוּק (דְּבָרִים ד): "וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ" וְכוּ' שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל פִּי חֲקִירוֹת. זֶה הַפֵּרוּשׁ הוּא מִכַּת הַקָּרָאִים, שֶׁהֵם מְפָרְשִׁים פָּסוּק זֶה כָּךְ, 'שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל פִּי חֲקִירוֹת', אֲבָל הָאֱמֶת לֹא כֵן הוּא!, כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת הָעִקָּר לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ הוּא רַק עַל יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה, שֶׁעַל יְדֵי זֶה דַּיְקָא זוֹכִין אַחַר כָּךְ לְדַעַת וְהַשָּׂגָה גְּדוֹלָה בִּידִיעַת רוֹמְמוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ. וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (הוֹשֵׁעַ ב): "וְאֵרַשְׂתִּיךְ לִי בֶּאֱמוּנָה וְיָדַעְתָּ אֶת ה'".
It is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord” (Deuteronomy 4:39). Some philosophers try to use this verse to prove that one must know God philosophically. The Rebbe said that this is absolutely false and there is a reference which states that this interpretation was first used by the Karaites.322A breakaway sect of Judaism founded in the ninth century, which adheres only to the word of the Written Torah and rejects the Oral Torah as law. The truth is that the only way to know God is through faith. This is the only path to knowledge and perception of God’s true greatness. Thus, it is written, “And I will betroth you to me with faith, and you shall know God” (Hosea 2:22).
[וְעַיֵּן בְּלִקּוּטֵי הֲלָכוֹת בְּיוֹרֶה דֵעָה הִלְכוֹת גִּלּוּחַ ה"ג, שָׁם מְבֹאָר הֵיטֵב שֶׁעִקַּר הַיְדִיעָה הוּא עַל יְדֵי אֱמוּנָה, עַיֵּן שָׁם].
In Likutey Halakhot, there is also a long discussion explaining clearly that true knowledge of God comes only through faith (Likutey Halakhot, Giluach 3:8 ff).
וּבֶאֱמֶת עִקַּר הַפֵּרוּשׁ הַפָּשׁוּט שֶׁל פְּסוּקִים אֵלּוּ הַמַּזְהִירִים לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּגוֹן "וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ וְכוּ'", וְכֵן "דַּע אֶת אֱלֹקֵי אָבִיךָ וְעָבְדֵהוּ" (דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים א כח). וְכֵן "דְּעוּ כִּי ה' הוּא אֱלֹהִים" וְכוּ' (תְּהִלִּים ק), עִקַּר הָאַזְהָרָה זוֹ הִיא בִּפְשִׁיטוּת – לָדַעַת וְלִזְכֹּר אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ תָּמִיד בְּכָל עֵת וְאַל יִשְׁכַּח אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ ח"ו, בְּשׁוּם עֵת.
Many verses tell us to know God. It is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord” (Deuteronomy 4:39). It is also written, “Know the God of your father” (I Chronicles 28:9). There is also, “Know that God is the Lord” (Psalms 100:3). None of these verses have anything to do with philosophy. Their lesson is that we should constantly know that God is there and not forget Him for an instant (cf. Sefer HaChinukh 25).
כְּמוֹ לְמָשָׁל שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים וְהָאֲדוֹנִים שֶׁמַּזְהִירִין אֶת עַבְדֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם מוֹשֵׁל, וּבִפְרָט אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל שֶׁל הַמְּלָכִים שֶׁמְּלַמְּדִין אוֹתָם שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ מִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַקֵּיסָר שֶׁלָּהֶם "לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם" (שְׁמוֹת כ) וְיַעַבְדוּ עֲבוֹדָתָם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת.
Great kings remind their subjects constantly to know that they have a ruler. This is especially true of their soldiers. They are continuously trained to know who is their lord and king. His fear must be on their faces (Exodus 20:17) in order that they serve him completely.
וְכֵן הָרְגִילוּת לוֹמַר לְהָעֶבֶד: 'דַּע שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלֶיךָ אָדוֹן וּמוֹשֵׁל', שֶׁהַכָּוָּנָה: שֶׁיִּקַּח זֹאת בְּדַעְתּוֹ בְּכָל עֵת וְאַל יִשְׁכַּח לְבַל יַעֲשֶׂה שׁוּם דָּבָר נֶגֶד רְצוֹנוֹ.
A king’s subjects are constantly told, “Know that you have a lord and master.” They are not told to philosophize about it, but to keep it in mind and not forget it. They are told to always think of the king and not do anything against his will.
כְּמוֹ כֵן לְהַבְדִּיל בְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּשְׁמַיָא, שֶׁמַּזְהִיר אוֹתָנוּ "דַּע אֶת אֱלֹקֵי אָבִיךָ" וְכוּ', הַיְנוּ יָדוֹעַ תֵּדַע וְאַל תִּשְׁכַּח בְּשׁוּם עֵת. וְכֵן "וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים" וְכוּ'. וְכֵן "דְּעוּ כִּי ה' הוּא אֱלֹהִים".
The same is true of the Kingdom of Heaven. We are told, “Know the God of your father! Know and do not forget! Know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord! Know that God is the Lord!”
כִּי בְּוַדַּאי צְרִיכִין כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אַזְהָרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וְרַבּוֹת עַל זֶה, בְּכַמָּה וְכַמָּה לְשׁוֹנוֹת. כִּי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד יוֹדֵעַ בִּכְלָל כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן מֵחֲמַת טִרְדוֹת עוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְתַאֲווֹתָיו וַהֲבָלָיו, נִמְצָאִים הַרְבֵּה שֶׁבְּרֹב הָעִתִּים שׁוֹכְחִים אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ.
We must be reminded of this many times. We might know that “God is the Lord,” but a host of worldly temptations and distractions are at work to make us forget this. Most people hardly ever think about God.
וְעַל זֶה מַזְהִירִים הַפְּסוּקִים "דְּעוּ כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים" וְכוּ' וְכֵן "דַּע אֶת אֱלֹקֵי אָבִיךָ" וְכוּ'. כְּלוֹמַר קְחוּ זֹאת בְּדַעְתְּכֶם הֵיטֵב עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה קָשׁוּר וְחָזָק בְּדַעְתְּכֶם וּלְבַבְכֶם בְּכָל עֵת, וְזֶה "וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ" וְכוּ', כִּי זֶה עִקַּר שְׁלֵמוּת הַיְדִיעָה – כְּשֶׁמְּקַשְּׁרִין הַדַּעַת אֶל הַלֵּב, לֵידַע בְּלִבּוֹ הֵיטֵב כִּי ה' הוּא אֱלֹקִים וְכוּ'. כִּי בְכָל עֵת שֶׁמְּשִׂימִין זֹאת אֶל לְבָבוֹ הֵיטֵב כִּי ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, בְּוַדַּאי נוֹפֵל פַּחְדּוֹ וְאֵימָתוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ עָלָיו לְבִלְתִּי יֶחֱטָא.
The Torah therefore reminds us, “Know that God is the Lord! Know the God of your father! Take this into your heart and mind, until it is tightly bound up there every instant!” Therefore, it is written, “You shall know this day and consider it in your heart that God is the Lord.” The main perfection of knowledge is binding your mind to your heart (see “His Wisdom” #39). Then you know “in your heart that God is the Lord.” When this enters your heart, you will certainly gain a deep awe of God and will not sin.
וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְדַבֵּר בָּזֶה יוֹתֵר, כִּי יְדִיעַת אֱלֹקוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ הוּא לְכָל חַד כְּפוּם מָה דִּמְשַׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּהּ (כל אחד כפי שמשער בליבו) כַּיָּדוּעַ. וְכָל חַד כְּפוּם מַה דִּמְשַּׁעֵר בְּלִבֵּיהּ יָבִין הֵיטֵב דְּבָרֵינוּ אֵלֶּה.
We cannot write further about this, since every person’s knowledge of God must enter the gates of his own heart (see “His Wisdom” #1). The more these are open, the more he will understand our words.
אֲבָל חָלִילָה לוֹמַר 'שֶׁכַּוָּנַת הַפְּסוּקִים לָדַעַת אוֹתוֹ יִתְבָּרַךְ עַל פִּי חֲקִירוֹת אֱנוֹשִׁיּוֹת' הַבְּנוּיִים עַל שֵׂכֶל הַמֻּטְעֶה. כִּי עִקַּר הַיְדִיעָה מִמֶּנּוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ כְּבָר הוֹדִיעוּ לָנוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁיָּגְעוּ וְטָרְחוּ כָּל יְמֵיהֶם וּפָשְׁטוּ אֶת עַצְמָם מִגַּשְׁמִיּוּת לְגַמְרֵי, כִּי שָׁבְרוּ כָּל הַתַּאֲווֹת וְהַמִּדּוֹת בְּתַכְלִית, וּבִפְרָט הָרַע הַכּוֹלֵל שֶׁהוּא תַּאֲוַת הַמִּשְׁגָּל, וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה הָיָה דַּעְתָּם בִּשְׁלֵמוּת וְזָכוּ לְהַכִּיר אֶת בּוֹרְאָם בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁלֵמוּת וְהִנִּיחוּ לָנוּ יְרֻשָּׁה טוֹבָה כָּזֹאת.
There are no biblical verses that teach us to know God through human speculation built on confused sophistry. Heaven forbid! The only way to know God is the way taught by our holy forefathers, who struggled all their lives for Him. They divested themselves of all worldly matters, totally subjugating every desire and emotion. Above all, they achieved total mastery of their sexual drives and so released themselves from the bondage of the root of evil. Consequently, they were able to perfect their intellect and truly recognize their Creator. This is the heritage they bequeathed to us.
וַאֲנַחְנוּ מְחֻיָּבִים לְקַבֵּל הַיְרֻשָּׁה הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת בְּשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב "אַשְׁרֵינוּ מַה טּוֹב חֶלְקֵנוּ וּמַה נָעִים גּוֹרָלֵנוּ וּמַה יָּפָה יְרֻשָּׁתֵנוּ" (מִתְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית) וְכוּ' רַק הַפְּסוּקִים מַזְהִירִים אוֹתָנוּ לִקַּח הַיְדִיעָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה הַזֹּאת בְּמֹחֵנוּ וּלְהַמְשִׁיכָהּ וּלְקָשְׁרָהּ בְּלִבֵּנוּ הֵיטֵב תָּמִיד בְּכָל עֵת לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה יִרְאָתוֹ עַל פָּנֵינוּ לְבִלְתִּי נֶחֱטָא וְכוּ'.
It is our duty to accept this heritage with joy. Therefore, we say in our prayers, “Happy are we! How good is our portion! How pleasant is our lot! How beautiful is our heritage!”323Morning prayers, LeOlam Yehei Adam ("Man should always be God-fearing"), found in Tanna DeVei Eliyahu Rabbah 21. The main lesson of these verses is that we take this holy knowledge into our minds, bring it into our hearts and bind it there constantly, in order that His fear will be on our faces so that we sin not (Exodus 20:17).