From the week of January 24

Our Torah portion opens with God making a distinction between the name of El Shaddai, revealed to the patriarchs, and the four-letter name of YHVH, revealed to Moses. “I am God and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob as God Almighty (El Shaddai) but my name JHVH I made not known to them.” (Exodus 6:2-3)

What is the difference between the two names. Of course there are kabbalistic explanations, but let’s find a basic understanding of the two terms. Creation is the central motif of Genesis. El Shaddai is the God of power, judgment, and energy. (Shaddai means “force.”) Thus when God reveals himself to the patriarchs, that idea of God at that time is about power, strength, and might…. a God who creates.

The Exodus saga takes us to a new stage in biblical history: the story of redemption and liberation. Also we receive the revelation of Torah.

The God who reveals is a God of love and concern, of ultimate compassion. Our sages have always spoken of YHVH as the God of love, where love softens the divine power. By linking law and love, the Torah is teaching that in order for the people to keep the commandments, they must know that the ultimate source is one of love and concern. The depth of that love defies all logic!

Join us for a wonderful Torah study this Shabbat morning at 9:30.