FROM THE REBBE’S FATHER
שׁ ְ מַ ע יִ שְׂ רָ אֵ ל י·ה·ו·ה אֱ ·לֹ·ה·ינו י·ה·ו·ה אֶ חָ ד
Hear, O Yisroel! The L-rd (YHVH) is our G-d (Elokeinu), the L-rd (YHVH) is one (Devarim, 6:4)
“And it is all truth and the secret of truth.” (Zohar)
Driving Questions:
- What is the meaning behind the three mentions of G-d’s name in this verse?
- How do these words show that G-d is truth (Emes)?
- What is this “secret” of truth?
R’ Levi Yitzchak explains:
The Midrash tells us that G-d’s seal is Emes, truth — אֱ מֶ ת. Reish Lakish explains how we see this. The very first letter of the Alef-Beis is an Alef א, the very middle letter is a Mem מ, and the final letter is a Taf/Sav ת. These three letters together spell the word אֱ מֶ ת — Emes (truth). Truth is something which doesn’t change from beginning to end; it’s consistent and absolute. Thus the very word for truth consists of the beginning, midpoint and last letter of the Alef Beis. This is also implied by the verse in the Prophets, “I am the first and I am the last, And there is no god but Me” — meaning G-d’s truth of existence is unchanging from beginning to end.
Based on the above we now understand that the first, middle and last name of G-d in the Shema’s opening line, correspond to the beginning, middle and end of time. Together they are a testimony to G-d’s ultimate truth that He is the G-d before time, of creation, and the end of times.
- י-ה-ו-ה: Before there was any creation. “I am the first” (א)
- אלקינו: Time of creation and when there exists concealment. “And there is no god but Me” (מ)
- י-ה-ו-ה: Era of Moshiach when G-dliness will be fully revealed. “and I am the last” (ת)
There is also a ‘secret’ way to arrive at this truth through using the method of Gematria (numerical value) of the letters, as we shall see.
When G-d instructed Moshe to go to Egypt and redeem the Jewish People, Moshe asked G-d, “They (the Jewish People will) ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And G-d said to Moses, “אֶ הְ יֶ - ה אֲ שׁ ר אֶ הְ יֶ - ה” — “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” (literally, “I will be as I shall be”).
The name אֶ הְ יֶ - ה (Ehyeh), has the numerical value of 21. The first letter of each of G-d’s names in the Shema also equals 21.
Viewing these words on a deeper level, through the world of Remez — allusions and hints, “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” can be understood as the sum total of “Ehyeh” x “Ehyeh”, i.e. 21x21 which equals 441. The word Emes — אֱ מֶ ת also totals 441.
Thus the statement of Shema Yisroel both mentions and hints to the absolute truth of G-d.
Toras Levi Yitzchak, Chiddushim U’ biurim B’shas, pg. 193.
By Rabbis Dovid Dubov & Yaakov K. Chaiton
In honor of Yaakov Ben Zina & Leah Bas Shlima
