Now, the entire passage of Krias Shema, which begins “ש ְמ עַׁיִש ְרָּ אֵּל-teaching that a Jew should hear and understand,” is only about the contemplation of Hashem’s “Names.” The first two verses of Krias Shema speak about Hashem’s Names, Havayeh and Elokim:
“ש ְׁמַע יִּש ְׁרָאֵּל -A Jew should hear and understand that הוי' אֱלֹ -הֵּינו -Hashem, who is called Havayeh, is our Elokim (G-d), and that הוי' אֶחָד -Hashem as He is called Havayeh is the One and only existence, even of the physical heavens and earth.”
The name Havayeh, means that He exists beyond time and space; He always was, He is, and He will be forever without change. The name Elokim refers to Hashem giving us life and power and watching over us in our daily lives. The meaning of ‘Havayeh is Elokeinu’ is that Hashem (as He expresses Himself in a Light that transcends time, space, and nature) comes down to be our life and strength and watch over us in our daily lives. We then declare that Havayeh is really the One true existence of the all the physical and spiritual worlds.
Through this contemplation, we come to fulfill the command to “love Hashem... with all of your heart.” We then reach the level of loving Hashem “with all of your might,” as mentioned above. This is the passionate yearning to become united with the Essence and Being of Hashem.
However, this connection with Hashem’s Essence is only possible through the fulfillment of Hashem’s Mitzvos, which are the Inner Will of Hashem. The “lowest level (action of Mitzvos) is connected to the highest level (Hashem’s Essence).”
This is the meaning of what we quoted above from the Krias Shema: “These words of the Torah that ‘אָּנֹכִיַׁ-I Myself,’ meaning ‘My True Self,’ the Essence and Being of Hashem, command you today” to fulfill the Mitzvos. These mitzvos come from Hashem’s Essence and Being, and not from a level of Light or revelation.
The Alter Rebbe will now explain the rest of the verse, based on the idea of connection to Hashem’s Essence:
“And these words that I (Hashem’s Essence) ַׁךְ ו צְמ-command/connect to you,” must be fulfilled specifically through the physical action of the Mitzvos, as explained above. Moreover, they must be performed “today,” since today refers to the time when the soul is invested in a body. Only while it is invested in a physical body can the soul fulfill the Mitzvos.
Which is not the case before the soul became invested in the body. Then, it only “enjoyed the revelation of the Light of Hashem’s Presence,” i.e., it enjoyed the Light of Hashem’s Wisdom that flows into Gan Eden.
This is the meaning of the continuation of the passage, which states, “And you should teach them (the words of Torah) to your children, and you should speak of them.” This is the Mitzvah of speaking the words of the Torah, as it is written, (Yehoshua 1:8) “And you should speak of them (the words of Torah) by day and by night.”
