Daily Wisdom 19 Shevat
February 10, 2023
By Rabbi Michael Skobac
Exodus 20:2
“I am (Anochi) Hashem your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt…"
Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz offers a profound observation about this text in his Chassidic masterpiece Mei Shiloach. He points out that ordinarily, the Hebrew word for "I" is ANI. However, the Almighty introduces Himself with the more unusual form ANOCHI.
ANOCHI is essentially the word ANI with the letter "chaf" added. This letter is known as the "chaf ha'dimyon" - the letter of similitude. ANOCHI expresses the idea that G-d is not revealing the fullness and entirety of Himself to Israel.
Humans are simply not capable of taking in or comprehending G-d's pure essence (Exodus 33:20, Isaiah 55:8). ANOCHI conveys: You're getting a bit of Me. This is "like" Me - but don't think you've got Me all figured out.
This is why this is followed by the directive to not make graven images. We are being told that we can't define G-d in human terms We can't put Him into a box of our making.
By Rabbi Michael Skobac
Republished by Angelique Sijbolts with permission for the Noahide Academy.
Rabbi Michael Skobac had been involved with Jews for Judaism (Canada) since 1989 and currently serves as its Director of Education and Counselling. He is a leading authority on missionaries, cults and issues relating to Jewish continuity and Jewish spirituality.
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