אות - רטז

He said: It is brought in one book that what is cited in the books of the investigators as a proof that one must investigate — from the verse (Devarim 4:39): "Know this day and return it to your heart," etc. — that one must know Him Yisburach through philosophical investigations. That interpretation is from the sect of the Karaites who interpret this verse thus — that one must know Him Yisburach through philosophical investigations. But the truth is not so. For in truth the essential way to know Him Yisburach is only through complete faith. And through this specifically one afterward merits great knowledge and understanding of His exalted Name Yisburach. As it is written (Hoshea 2:22): "And I will betroth you to Me in faith, and you shall know Hashem."[398] And in truth the essential plain meaning of these verses which warn to know Him Yisburach — such as "Know this day and return it to your heart," etc., and likewise "Know the G-d of your father and serve Him" (I Divrei HaYamim 28:9), and likewise "Know that Hashem — He is G-d" etc. (Psalms 100:3) — the essential intent of this warning is simply to know and remember Him Yisburach always at every moment, and not to forget Him Yisburach, Heaven forbid, at any time.[399] Just as for example it is the way of kings and lords to warn their servants that they should know there is a ruler over them, and especially the king's soldiers whom they teach to know who their king and emperor is — "so that His fear should be upon their faces" (Shemos 20:17) — and they should serve their service with completeness. And likewise it is customary to say to the servant: Know that there is a master and ruler over you — the intention being that he should take this to heart at all times and not forget, so as not to do anything against his will. Similarly — to separate — in the kingdom of Heaven, He warns us: "Know the G-d of your father" etc. — meaning, always know and remember and do not forget at any time.[400] And certainly many, many great and numerous warnings are necessary for this in many different forms of language. For although every person knows in general that Hashem is G-d — even so, because of the worries of this world and its desires and vanities, many are found who forget Him Yisburach most of the time. And for this the verses warn: "Know that Hashem is G-d" etc., and "Know the G-d of your father" etc. — that is, take this well into your mind until it is firmly tied and strong in your mind and heart at all times. And this is: "Know this day and return it to your heart" etc. — for this is the essential completeness of knowledge: when one binds the mind to the heart, knowing well in one's heart that Hashem is G-d, etc. For at every time that one places this well into one's heart that Hashem is G-d, certainly His fear and awe falls upon one and one will not sin. And it is impossible to speak more on this, for the knowledge of His G-dliness Yisburach is for each one according to what he evaluates in his heart, as is known.

And according to what each one evaluates in his heart he will understand our words here well. But Heaven forbid to say that the intention of the verses is to know Him Yisburach through human philosophical investigations built on erroneous intellect. For the essential knowledge of Him Yisburach has already been made known to us by our holy fathers, who toiled and labored all their days and divested themselves completely from physicality — for they broke all desires and character traits to the ultimate degree, and especially the encompassing evil which is the desire of intercourse. And through this their minds were complete and they merited to know their Creator in the utmost completeness. And they left us such a good inheritance. And we are obligated to receive this good inheritance with great joy, as it says: "How fortunate are we, how good is our portion, how pleasant is our lot, how beautiful is our inheritance" (from the morning prayer), etc. Only the verses warn us to take this holy knowledge into our minds and draw it and bind it in our heart always at every time, so that His fear should be upon our faces and we not sin, etc.

398. RAK: See Sefer HaChinuch, section 25. 399. RAK: See above, section 39.

400. RAK: See above, section 1.