God’s Unity

Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim

When reciting the Shema, after completing the first verse, one says quietly, "Blessed be the name of the honor of His Kingdom forever." He then continues to read the first section in its normal fashion, "And you shall love God, your Lord..."  Why do we read it in this fashion? 

It is our tradition that when the patriarch, Jacob, gathered all his sons together in Egypt close to his death, he commanded and strengthened them regarding the Unity of God and the path of God upon which Abraham and Isaac his father, had tread. He asked them, "My sons, perhaps there are flaws among you, one who does not stand with me in the Unity of God?" This is comparable to the manner in which Moses, our teacher, said to us, "Lest there be among you a man or woman whose heart turns this day from God..." (Deut. 29:17). They all answered and said, "Listen, Israel, God is our Lord, God is One.”  The elder Jacob responded, "Blessed be the Name of the Glory of His Kingdom forever." Therefore, the Jews are accustomed to utter the praise that Israel, the elder, uttered after this [first] verse. (Maimonides, Laws of Reading the Shima 1:4)

Why did Jacob wait until his death to ask his children about their belief in God’s “unity,” His exclusive role as the Creator? Why does Maimonides repeat that Jacob was an “elder,” and what role does elder play in teaching unity of God? Moses also—in old age—warned Israel against idolatry. One could say that this truth is validated best through a wise person who has experienced an entire lifetime and sees only one God. But then shouldn't any lesson require validation through an elder? Or is there some greater significance of an elder when the topic is God’s monotheism?

When a wise father is about to pass away, he understands his role as only a temporary “authority model” to prepare his children to accept the “Ultimate Authority.” Therefore, he directs his children to transfer his expiring paternal authority figure onto God. This explains why Maimonides mentions that Jacob referred to Abraham and Isaac, as Jacob too transferred his two authority figures onto God when they passed. That's also why honoring parents is included in the first tablet of the Ten Commandments, addressing laws between man and God. For the institution of honoring parents is precisely to prime man to first accept a human authority figure, ultimately to be transferred onto God. This also supports why in Mara, prior to accepting Torah on Sinai, Moses taught the people three matters: laws of courts, Shabbos and honoring parents, because accepting God's authority at Sinai was better facilitated by first honoring parents.

What is the meaning of Jacob’s response, "Blessed be the Name of the Glory of His Kingdom forever?” Why didn't Moses say it? Moses quotes what Jacob’s sons replied to their father: “Shema Israel.” The twelve sons confirmed to their father that just as their father Jacob accepted only one God, so too did they follow that monotheism. At the end of Moses' life he wished the Jews to transfer their view of him as their authority, onto God, and used the phrase “Shima Yisrael” of Jacob's twelve sons. For this new nation identified with these sons, fittingly named the “Children of Israel.” Moses' quotation of the twelve tribes’ commitment to monotheism would help the Jews remain firmly monotheistic. 

Why is Jacob's responsive “Baruch Shame” necessary in the Shima? 

When there's a declaration of God's unity there must be a human response of praise and that's what Jacob did. (In the temple the priests follow this model of declaring this praise when God's name is uttered.) But as Moses didn't say this praise, the gemara questioned reciting something that Moses did not say. But as Jacob said it, the compromise was struck to recite this praise of Jacob, but quietly, indicating it was not part of Moses' words. And the reason Moses did not say the phrase is the same reason why a person does not say "Amen" to his own blessings: the person himself does not need to confirm what he just said. 

"Blessed be the Name of the Glory of His Kingdom forever"

As Rabbi Israel Chait taught, as man is ignorant of what God is, the only thing we can bless about God is His name. But we can also add that He is the creator which dictates that He is eternal, so that forms part of the praise. For any king that has a term on his kingdom displays weakness. God exists beyond time.