Each week, I will share one of the amazing Divrei Torahs I found on the internet, posting the first few paragraphs here and linking to the full Dvar Torah in it's original source. Enjoy them! They are truly amazing!Rabbi Yosef Benarroch
In his code of Jewish law Maimonides explains that belief in G-d is a fundamental part of Judaism and is considered one of the 613 commandments. The source of the command, explains Maimonides, is the opening statement of the Ten Commandments "I am the Lord your G-d" which can be found in this week's Torah portion of "Yitro".
When explaining the obligation to believe in G-d Maimonides states the following, "The foundation of our faith and wisdom is to know that there is a first cause (G-d) who created everything. This is a positive commandment as it is written 'I am the Lord your G-d" (Yesodeh Hatorah 1:1-6).
Today I would like to explore the first command that opens the Ten Commandments. Maimonides states that belief in G-d must bring us to the realization that he created the world. Yet when we look at the way G-d chose to introduce himself in the Ten Commandments we read the following, "I am the Lord your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt from the house of slavery" (Shemot20:2).
Why does G-d choose to be introduced as the one who took the Jewish nation out of Egypt and not as the one who created the heavens and the earth? After all Maimonides does state that belief in G-d is the belief that he created everything and that he is the first cause of everything? It would seem that being introduced, as the creator of the world is a far more dramatic introduction then the one who delivered the Jewish nation from Egyptian bondage.
