The sixth aliyah introduces us to the most central mitzvah of the Torah: belief in Hashem. What I always find interesting is trying to define exactly what the performance of that mitzvah looks like, and what does it look like to violate or abrogate such a belief. This would also be a great ice breaker on a Shidduch Date, as we shall discuss.

The Sefer HaChinukh #21 defines the first commandment of the Ten Commandments as the obligation to believe in the existence of a single, eternal G-d. This isn’t just a passive acknowledgment; it is the conviction that He is the Prime Mover who brought all of existence into being and continues to sustain it by His will. Without His “strength” and “desire,” as it were, nothing could exist.

Crucially, the Chinukh notes that the Torah anchors this belief in the Exodus from Egypt, just like in our Parsha. By stating, “I am the Lord your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt,” Hashem is instructing the Jewish people that their liberation was not a coincidence or a stroke of luck. Instead, it was a deliberate act of Divine Providence (Hashgacha Pratis) and a fulfillment of the covenant made with the Avos (Patriarchs). To “know” Him is to recognize Him as the active Force in history who cares for and supervises His creation.

The Minchas Chinukh expands on this by emphasizing that this commandment exists primarily in the mind and heart. Unlike many other commandments that require physical action, this is a “duty of the heart.” Because belief is generally internal, or something you construct metaphysically, the legal consequences are unique. While most violations of Jewish law are tried by human courts, a “sin of thought” such as entertaining the idea of other gods is generally punishable only by Heaven. This highlights that belief is the “root upon which everything hangs”; it is the foundation of the entire religious structure, making it too central to be measured by standard earthly penalties alone.

The second half of the Minchas Chinukh explores a fascinating legal tension between two great scholars,........

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