{"id":62,"date":"2016-03-20T17:26:40","date_gmt":"2016-03-20T17:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/?p=62"},"modified":"2016-03-20T17:26:40","modified_gmt":"2016-03-20T17:26:40","slug":"daat-tevunot-15-35-36-beginning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/2016\/03\/20\/daat-tevunot-15-35-36-beginning\/","title":{"rendered":"Da\u2019at Tevunot 1:5 (# 35 – 36 [beginning])"},"content":{"rendered":"

Da\u2019at Tevunot<\/em> 1:5 (# 35 – 36 [beginning])<\/p>\n

The idea of G-d’s Yichud<\/em> seems simple enough: doesn’t it just indicate that G-d is the only L-rd, there’s none other? Well, while that’s true overall, there are many factors in the tradition that expand on it that would need to be underscored and explained.<\/p>\n

But the main thing we’d need to do would be to cite five theologically-calamitous mistakes that people make which prevent them from accepting just how unmitigated and absolute G-d\u2019s sovereignty is [1].<\/p>\n

The first of them (which seems rather laudatory and respectful of Him at first blush) is to think that G-d is \u201cfar too exalted\u201d, much too \u201cremoved from the world to concern Himself with it\u201d in Ramchal\u2019s words. That in fact was the viewpoint of some early idolaters, who then worshipped the stars and constellations, which they considered G-d\u2019s lofty agents on earth [2].<\/p>\n

The second is to reason that since, as we\u2019re taught, G-d is perfect, whole, and utterly benevolent, and yet there\u2019s evil and wrongdoing in this world — then there have to be two deities: one of whom is responsible for the good and another for the bad [3].<\/p>\n

The third mistake people have made [4] is to assume that the \u201claws of nature\u201d (as well as the constraints of \u201cdestiny\u201d and of \u201chappenstance\u201d) are indefatigable facts of life not to be denied, and that even G-d is beholden to them. They also believe that the sooner a person acknowledges those \u201crules\u201d and starts to play by them, the better off he is, and that the longer he denies them the more likely he is to fail [5].<\/p>\n

The fourth is to believe that His deeds are sometimes subordinate to man\u2019s actions. They assert as an example the notion that while G-d had once chosen the Jewish Nation in fact to carry out His mission in this world, He no longer favors us since we continue to sin and stray, and that He was thus \u201cforced\u201d to abandon us, G-d forbid, as a consequence of those actions [6].<\/p>\n

And the fifth mistake is to assume that though He is the Creator of each and every thing, we can still-and-all do things to get around His wishes or affect His deeds. Mistakenly believing that G-d must be vulnerable in some realm or another, and that they could subject Him to their manipulation and cunning, they would for example try to manipulate the sort of supernatural forces that G-d is thought to acquiesce to [7].<\/p>\n

Footnotes:<\/p>\n

[1] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Doubtlessly meaning to underscore the importance of the idea — which he says in the text is the<\/em> cardinal and over-arching truism of the Jewish Faith — Ramchal elaborates here on verses that depict G-d\u2019s sovereignty. We didn\u2019t cite them above because they seem redundant in this sort of a treatment, but we\u2019ll quote them here.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re thus told that \u201cG-d is the L-rd\u201d which is to say, the Absolute, Omnipotent Sovereign, \u201cin Heaven above and on the earth below\u201d, i.e., in orbits we experience and in others we cannot; \u201cthere is no other\u201d, i.e., that\u2019s true of Him, and Him alone (Deuteronomy 4:39). See Sanhedrin<\/em> 67b on this verse.<\/p>\n

\u201cBehold, I am He\u201d the Torah quotes G-d as declaring, meaning to say that G-d alone is the Absolute Sovereign, \u201cthere is no ‘(other) god’ with Me\u201d i.e., He shares sovereignty with nothing and no one else. And the Torah underscores the point with the Divine affirmation that, \u201cI (alone) bring on death and I bring to life; I wound and I heal\u201d (Deuteronomy 32:39), thus asserting the profundity and finality of G-d\u2019s determinations.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re taught that G-d is \u201cunchangeable; (so) who could turn Him around?\u201d, which is to say that He cannot be dissuaded from doing anything He\u2019s determined to do. It\u2019s also said that \u201cHe does what He wants\u201c(Job 23:13), for after all, \u201cWho’d (dare) say to Him, \u2018What are You doing?\u2019\u201c (Job 9:12). In short we\u2019re to understand that G-d\u2019s rule is absolute and supreme. Nothing and no one could ever thwart Him.<\/p>\n

It’s important to point out that Ramchal spoke of three sorts of Yichud<\/em> in his writings. The one here refers to G-d’s utter sovereignty, as we’d indicated. There’s an instance of Yichud<\/em> more fundamental to that though which is referred to as the Yichud<\/em> — the uniqueness — of G-d’s existence, that is, the fact that only His existence is imperative (i.e., He alone is indispensable). That is, while everything else’s existence is expendable, G-d’s must exist if anything else is to. See Derech<\/em> Hashem<\/em> 1:1:3 as well as See Ma\u2019amar HaIkkurim<\/em> (\u201cBaBorei Yitbarach<\/em>\u201d) and Ma\u2019amar HaChochma<\/em> (\u201cAleinu Leshabaiyach<\/em>\u201d) for a discussion of that. Also see Rambam’s Hilchot<\/em> Yesodei HaTorah<\/em> 1:2.<\/p>\n

The third sort is more esoteric and is referred to as the Yichud<\/em> of Reisha<\/em> v’Saifa<\/em>, “The conjunction of the beginning and end”. See Ramchal’s Sod<\/em> HaYichud<\/em> (found in Ginzei<\/em> Ramchal<\/em> p. 264). It refers to the point in the ultimate future when everything will return to G-dliness. But that’s not at all mentioned in Da’at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em>, our subject at hand, nor is it easy to explain without a huge and distracting discussion.<\/p>\n

[2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Those who think this way reason, “Wait a minute. He\u2019s G-d! Why should He care about petty and ultimately inconsequential things like this world and us?” In Ramchal\u2019s words, they think that He has left us under the control of \u201cthe stars, constellations, and their celestial counterparts, which then oversee the (workings of the) world\u201d.<\/p>\n

Some likewise-minded people today start off with something of the same premise but go elsewhere with it. \u201cSince G-d is so lofty and transcendent\u201d they contend, \u201cHe apparently left us to our own devices\u201d. What they mean to suggest is either that we\u2019re now on our own in the universe, masters of our own fate, and accountable to no one; or worse yet, that G-d is an aloof Master of the Universe who wouldn\u2019t deign to concern Himself with this world. But both approaches are wrong. The first because it limits G-d\u2019s reach and doesn\u2019t factor in His ability (and wish) to interface with this world and ourselves in an imminent, near-at-hand sort of way. And the second is wrong because it limits His concerns for and faith in us, whom He created to fulfill His ultimate purpose.<\/p>\n

[3] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ramchal is referring to Zoroastrianism which thrived in Talmudic times and threatened Jewish beliefs. It maintained that a pair of co-equal deities called Ahura Mazda<\/em> (the beneficent \u201cWise Lord\u201d) and Angra Mainyu<\/em> (the malevolent \u201cEvil Spirit\u201d) competed with each other for control of the universe (see Sanhedrin<\/em> 39A).<\/p>\n

The truth be known, that error is either based on our inability to fathom how a good G-d could allow for evil to manifest itself so often, or at all; or on our failure to appreciate when an instance of bad might actually prove to be good. The seeming contradiction and confusion in all that is so bothersome to some poor souls that they lapse into heresy or spiritual mayhem in the face of it, G-d forbid. But all of this will be discussed later.<\/p>\n

[4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And continue to make to this day, perhaps even more so than in the past, in fact.<\/p>\n

[5] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But that would suggest that these \u201claws\u201d existed before G-d Himself did, since they<\/em> rather than He would be the very underpinnings of everything in the world. Yet that\u2019s absurd, for by definition G-d never didn\u2019t<\/em> exist, so nothing could ever have preceded Him; and since He\u2019s the Creator, He created those forces, too, and is thus beyond and above them.<\/p>\n

It also follows, then, that since He is in fact beyond and above them (and everything else, as well), that these rules aren\u2019t<\/em> immutable. And rather than being \u201claws\u201d of nature and facts of life, they\u2019re actually only some of the multifarious, mutable means G-d uses to govern this world; that is, that like everything else, they too are beholden to Him, the Absolute Sovereign.<\/p>\n

See Adir Bamarom<\/em>, vol. 1,p. 458 and Ibid.<\/em>, vol. 2, pp. 150, 158 for discussions about how misguided and limited our perceptions can be.<\/p>\n

[6]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First off, let\u2019s quote G-d\u2019s own words about the fixed and abiding nature of our people\u2019s relationship to Him. \u201cI will never give My glory to another (nation) \u201c(Isaiah 48:11), since He has established a covenant between Himself and us that\u2019s to last forever. And that as a consequence of that covenant He\u2019ll expunge many of the things we do against Him, we\u2019re assured.<\/p>\n

\u201cI, I myself, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins\u201c (Isaiah 43:25), G-d said at one point; \u201cI will remove the iniquity of that country (Israel) in one day\u201c (Zechariah 3:9), He said at another; and He once assured us that \u201cIn those days and in that time… the iniquity of Israel will be searched out, and there will (be found to) be none; and the sins of Judah (will be searched out, too) and not be found. For, I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant\u201c(Jeremiah 50:20).<\/p>\n

That\u2019s to say that His covenant with us is eternal and beyond others\u2019 expectations. And that G-d is unaffected by and above our own or anyone else\u2019s deeds, as well as any system He Himself set up to determine worth and merit. For as He put it, \u201cI will be gracious to whomever I will be gracious — even though he may not be worthy of it\u201d. And \u201cI will show mercy upon whomever I will show mercy, even though he may not deserve it\u201c(Berachot<\/em> 7A). Also see Genesis 17:1-2, 7; Isaiah 54:10 and 59:21; 1 Chronicles 16:15-17; and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to deny the consequences that any one of us would have to suffer for our having broken our end of the bargain and sinned. For, despite the covenant between G-d Almighty and our people, the truth of the matter is that transgressions are transgressions indeed every bit as much as merits are merits; everyone must answer for his or her own deeds.<\/p>\n

[7] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But they too are wrong. For G-d alone is G-d, and the Absolute Sovereign. Nothing can thwart Him. He alone reigns supreme; nothing exists save for the fact that He wills it to; and He oversees everything. He Himself enacted all laws and ordinances, and they\u2019re thus beholden to Him, rather than He to them.<\/p>\n

There will indeed be times when G-d chooses to accede to man\u2019s deeds, but He needn\u2019t do that if He chooses not to. And He\u2019s likewise above even supernatural laws. After all, He Himself set it all in place and granted it its capabilities. He instituted everything and can correspondingly change and undo anything. For He alone is all-powerful.<\/p>\n

(c) 2016 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n

———————————————————-<\/p>\n

AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n

You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n

Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n

Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Da\u2019at Tevunot 1:5 (# 35 – 36 [beginning]) The idea of G-d’s Yichud seems simple enough: doesn’t it just indicate that G-d is the only L-rd, there’s none other? Well, while that’s true overall, there are many factors in the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iqo7-10","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62\/revisions\/65"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rabbiyaakovfeldman.aishdas.org\/daattevunot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}