ONE IS HE IS ONE FOR ME
The Midrash in our Parsha shares the following story. As the shevatim surrounded Yaakov’s bed before his leaving this world, Yaakov wanted to reveal the time when they would reach their destiny; the coming of Moshiach. To appreciate the scene we must recognize that with Yaakov on his bed surrounded by the 12 shevatim he was carrying the Shechina, the Presence of HaShem, similar to the Mishkan surrounded by the 12 tribes in the desert. As he lay there with the Shechina on him, he intended to reveal the ultimate time of Moshiach. However, the moment before he was to reveal it, the Shechina suddenly left him.
With the departure of the Shechina Yaakov assumed that perhaps one of his children was not completely dedicated to HaShem. He therefore asked them ‘Is there anyone here who is not entirely committed to HaShem?’ to which they responded in unison. “Shema Yisroel HaShem Elokeinu HaShem Echod”, ‘Just as you are completely with HaShem, so are we all together in complete dedication to Him.
To gain a fuller appreciation of this Midrash I wish to share the Chasam Sofer’s insight to the Shema.
The four letter Name of HaShem which is the name that we are not allowed to pronounce, carries two essential meanings. The first meaning is HaShem transcends Time; He exists before the creation of Time, He exists within the frame of Time and He exists after Time expires. The second meaning is that He is the source of all existence. It therefore follows that if He is the source of all existence then it is evident that He is the only true existence; everything else exists only after He created them and nothing created Him.
The very name of HaShem therefore indicates that He is One and there can be none other. Hence, the Chasam Sofer asks what is the intent of the verse that HaShem is our G.D, HaShem is One. Why the redundancy? His very Name already indicates that He is One.
He answers that the second reference that HaShem is One is not intended to identify HaShem as being One. Rather, it is for us to articulate that in our life, in our ambitions, in our drives and goals He is One and there is none other. The verse therefore reads ‘Shema Yisroel, HaShem Who is our G.D, He is the only destination of all of our dreams and aspirations.
In this light we can appreciate why this verse represents the Jew’s acceptance of the yoke of HaShem’s Sovereignty. With this statement the Jew proclaims that there is nothing in his life that does not move him in the direction of serving HaShem.
Rav Yitzchok Aizik Chaver draws the parallel of the hu man body with its soul to the Jewish people with HaShem. The healthy body is one in which all the organs serve the greater body. The only way the soul can function as the life force of the body is when all the body parts are completely dedicated to serving the larger body and her soul. The moment one of the organs chooses to follow its own path and its own interests to the exclusion of the body, the entire body will weaken and the soul will depart. So it is with the Jewish people. Am Yisroel is our body, HaShem is our soul and every member of our people serves as a unique organ. We are the body of humanity who contain HaShem in this world. However, we can contain His Presence only when all the organs are completely dedicated to serving the larger nation and our Soul.
We can appreciate why with the departure of the Shechina from Yaakov did he suspect that the dedication to HaShem was di-minished. In their response with the Shema they answered with unequivocal clarity they all accepted upon themselves the com-plete yoke of HaShem’s Sovereignty.
As heirs to this great legacy, we can remember this scene twice daily when we recite the Shema and bring the Shechina into our lives.
Have a very wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind