"To you it was shown, that you might know"
Rabbi Chiya opens this discussion with: "To you it was shown, that you might know that the Creator He is the Elohim.'" He says the children of Yisrael lost all knowledge of their faith when they were in Egypt, until Moses taught them about the supernal Elohim in the world. Then they saw many miracles, were given the Torah, and learned the ways of God. The entire secret of the faith is, we are told, hinged upon this verse, "Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Creator He is Elohim in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, there is no other." The secret of secrets is that Zeir Anpin, which is Yud Hei Vav Hei, and Elohim, which is Malchut, are One.
Just as a stone is made of the same material as the mountain from which it is hewn, the soul of man is a spark of the divine Light. Therein lies the secret of the profound oneness that underlies this physical reality. The essence of the Creator, and our souls, is an unending desire to impart goodness, joy, and delight.
Thus, when we resist our wanton, self-seeking desires and use them in the service of others (sharing), we attain oneness with the Creator. The stone merges with the mountain. The faith to live by this truth awakens in our hearts. The strength to conquer our avaricious tendencies is born within us. Trust, conviction, and knowledge of the Creator are emblazoned in our minds. Our ultimate transformation and the final evolutionary stage of humanity are achieved. Mankind now embodies a Desire to Receive for the Sake of Sharing, and oneness is achieved between the Light and the Vessel.
631. Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion after him saying, "To you it was shown, that you might know that Hashem He is the Elohim... " (Devarim 4:35). This verse should be viewed closely. What is the meaning of, "To you it was shown?" HE ANSWERS, When the children of Yisrael went forth from Egypt, they knew nothing through the secret of the Faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, because they all worshipped idols in exile. They forgot all the roots of the Faith that they had originally that the twelve tribes inherited from their father Jacob.
631. רַבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח אֲבַתְרֵיהּ וְאָמַר, אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת כִּי יְיָ' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים וְגוֹ,' הַאי קְרָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא בֵּיהּ, אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ, מַאי הָרְאֵתָ. אֶלָּא כַּד נָפְקוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, לָא הֲווֹ יַדְעֵי בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּלוּם, בְּגִין דְּכֻלְּהוּ הֲווֹ פַּלְחֵי פּוּלְחָנָא נוּכְרָאָה בְּגָלוּתָא, וְאַנְשׁוּ כָּל עִקָּרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא דַּהֲוָה בְּהוּ בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דְּיָרִיתוּ כָּל אִינּוּן תְּרֵיסַר שְׁבָטִין מֵאֲבוּהוֹן יַעֲקֹב.
632. When Moses came, he taught them that there was a supernal Elohim in the world, as we have established. Afterwards, they saw all the miracles and mighty deeds by the sea, and all the miracles and mighty deeds that He performed for them in Egypt. Then they saw many mighty deeds with the manna and with the water, the Torah was given to them, and they learned the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, until they came to that time.
632. וְכַד אָתָא מֹשֶׁה, אוֹלִיף לוֹן דְּאִית אֱלוֹהַּ עִלָּאָה בְּעָלְמָא, כְּמָה דְּאוּקְמוּהָ. לְבָתַר חָמוּ כָּל אִינּוּן נִסִּין וּגְבוּרָן דְּעַל יַמָא, וְכָל נִסִּין וּגְבוּרָן דְּעָבֵד לְהוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם. לְבָתַר חָמוּ כַּמָה גְּבוּרָן, בְּמָנָא וּבְמַיָא וְאִתְיְהִיבַת לוֹן אוֹרַיְיתָא, וְאוֹלִיפוּ אָרְחֵי דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, עַד דְּמָטֵי לְעִדָּנָא דָּא.
633. Moses said to them, Until now, I had to teach you as one teaches a child. This is the meaning of, "To you it was shown, that you might know," for I taught you until now the knowledge to know, behold and enter the secret of Faith, which is that Hashem He is the Elohim.'
633. אָמַר לוֹן מֹשֶׁה, עַד הַשְׁתָּא אִצְטְרִיכְנָא לְמֵילַף לְכוּ, כְּמָה דְּיַלְפִין לְרַבְיָּא. וְדָא הוּא אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת, וְאוֹלִיפַת עַד הָכָא, לָדַעַת לְמִנְדַּע וּלְאִסְתַּכְּלָא וּלְמֵיעַל בְּרָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא. וּמַאי אִיהִי. כִּי יְיָ' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים.
634. If you wonder whether it is a small matter to know this, behold it is written, "Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that Hashem He is the Elohim in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath, there is no other" (Ibid. 39). The entire secret of the Faith, deriving the secret of all secrets from this and knowing the most concealed of all, is stems from THIS VERSE. Yud Hei Vav Hei Elohim is a full name, FOR YUD HEI VAV HEI IS ZEIR ANPIN AND ELOHIM IS MALCHUT, and it indicates that it is all one. "To you it was shown, that you might know... THAT HASHEM HE IS THE ELOHIM... :" Here is the secret of secrets to those who know the law; NAMELY, THE SECRET THAT ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS YUD HEI VAV HEI, AND ELOHIM, WHICH IS MALCHUT, ARE ONE.
634. אִי תֵּימָא מִלָּה זְעִירָא הִיא לְמִנְדַּע, הָא כְּתִיב וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבוֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ כִּי יְיָ' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים בַּשָׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת אֵין עוֹד. הָכָא תַּלְיָא כָּל רָזָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, לְמִנְדַּע מִגּוֹ דָּא, רָזָא דְּכָל רָזִין, לְמִנְדַּע סְתִימוּ דְּכָל סְתִימִין, יְהֹוָ"ה אֱלֹהִים שֵׁם מָלֵּא, וְכֹלָּא חַד. אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ לָדַעַת, הָכָא רָזָא דְּרָזִין לְאִינּוּן יַדְעֵי מִדִּין.