The Mesorah of G-d

G-d’s Unity

1. Revelation of His Existence
   1. Gen. 1:1
   2. Gen .2:7
   3. Ex. 20:1
2. The following work is based on the writings and teachings of the Ramchal (Moshe Chayim Luzzatto.
   1. Luzzatto, Moshe Hayyim. Derekh Hashem / = the Way of God / by Moshe Chaim Luzzatto ; Translated and Annotated by Aryeh Kaplan; Emended by Gershon Robinson. Jerusalem; New York: Feldheim Publishers, 1998.

      Luzzatto, Moshe Ḥayyim, Moshe Ḥayyim Luzzatto, Moshe Ḥayyim Luzzatto, Mordechai Rose, and Yaakov Wincelberg. Knowing God’s Plan: The Precise System Through Which God Directs Every Aspect of Existence, 2016.

      Luzzatto, Moshe Hayyim. Path of the Just. Translated by Yosef Liebler. 1st Ed. edition. Jerusalem: Philipp Feldheim, 2004.

      Luzzatto, Moshe Ḥayyim, David Sackton, and Chaim Tscholkowsky. Sefer Derekh Tevunot: Kolel Bo Kol Darkhe Ha-Hitbonenut Ṿeha-Haśkalah Le-Havin Be-Naḳel Darkhe Ha-Talmud Ṿi-Yesodot Ha-Pilpul Be-Derekh Ḳetsarah. Yerushalayim : [Spring Valley, NY: Yeshivat ha-tefutsot : Feldhaim ; Distributed by P. Feldheim],

      Luzzatto, Moshe Ḥayyim, and Abraham J. Twerski. Lights Along the Way: Timeless Lessons for Today from Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s Mesillas Yesharim. 1st ed. Brooklyn, N.Y: Mesorah Publications, 1995.

3. Unity
   1. There is a need first to meditate on this subject with great Kavanah and devotion
   2. Most men do not have the capacity to truly apprehend this unity and singularity
4. Declaration of G-d’s (HaShem) Unity with the mouth
   1. This level is really a superficial level that has not applied great devotion and intention in the whole of man’s being
   2. Unity of G-d in the tongue only. This level is reached by the child and the simpleton who does not understand the matter of (true) religion, and in whose heart its truth is not fixed.
5. Declaration of G-d’s Unity with the Inner man (Ruach)
   1. Unity of G-d in the mind and in the tongue through Tradition, because he believes those who he received from, but he does not understand the truth of the matter through his own intellect and understanding. He is like the blind man who follows the seeing man, and it is possible that the one he follows received the Tradition from a receiver like himself, whereby it would be like a procession of blind men where each one places his hands on the shoulders of the fellow before him until at the head is a seeing man who guides them all. If the seeing man fails them or neglects them and is not careful to guard them, or if one of the blind men in the chain stumbles or some other trouble happens – all of them will share the same fate, and will stray from the path; and it is possible they will fall in a pit or ditch, or they will stumble in something which blocks their progress.
   2. Similarly for one who proclaims the unity out of tradition, one cannot be sure he will not come to association, that if he hears the words of the Meshanim and their claims, It is possible that he will change his outlook, and will err without noticing. Because of this our Sages said: “Be eager to study the Torah and know what to respond to an apikoros (heretic)“ (Pirkei Avoth 2:14).
6. The third group: Unity of G-d with the mind and the tongue after one can bring logical proofs demonstrating the truth of His existence, but without understanding the matter of true Unity versus temporary unity. This is like a seeing man who is travelling along the road, wishing to reach a faraway land. Even though he knows the general direction, but the road splits to many uncertain roads, and he does not recognize the correct road which leads to the city he wishes to reach.
   1. He will greatly tire himself and will fail to reach his destination, because he does not know the (correct) road, as the verse says: “the toil of the fool will tire him who knows not to reach a city” (Eccles. 10:15).
7. The fourth group: Acknowledgement of the Unity of G-d with the mind and the tongue after one knows how to bring proofs on it, and to comprehend the truth of His Unity through intellectual derivation and correct, sound reasoning – this is the complete and important group, and this is the level which the prophet exhorted us in saying: “Know therefore this day, and set it in your heart, that the L-rd He is G-d” (Deut. 4:39).