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Rabbi Stewart Weiss
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'ה י ִ כֹנ ָ א

G-d is Watching

he first Commandment, took us out of Egypt, indicating that Numerous commentators have
it would seem, is hardly a G-d accompanies us throughout his- addressed this question. Rabbi
Tcommandment at all! Unlike tory, and intervenes if and when the Shimon bar Yochai says that Anochi
all the other commandments – which occasion is called for. Had He stated connotes love; i.e. all of the dibrot
contain either a Do or a Don’t – it was He who created the universe, are for the benefit of Am Yisrael and
Anochi Hashem Elokecha is a blunt we might have mistakenly thought demonstrate G-d’s unending affection
statement of fact: I, Hashem, am your that nature and history were set into for His people. Rav Nechemia, how-
G-d. motion at the beginning of time and ever, states that Anochi is a statement
An essential truth is being presented left on their own to play out, in a of power and authority, as in Isaiah
45:12: “I, Anochi, made the Earth and
here, even before the enumeration of sense leaving humanity to its own placed Mankind upon it, My hands
the Do’s and Don’ts: All the mitzvot devices. Instead, we are assured that spread out the Heavens and brought
which follow – not just the other nine human events are inextricably inter- the planets into existence.” Others see
in this list, but every one of the 613 woven with the Divine will, vigilant Anochi in terms of fear and trepida-
mitzvot, which, by tradition, are con- and transcendent, activated at the tion, citing the story of the bechora,
tained within the Aseret HaDibrot – Almighty’s discretion. the birthright, wherein Ya’akov – dis-
emanate from a Supreme and Divine All this is embodied within the name guised as Eisav and fearful of being
source, G-d, who has the power to found out – says, “Anochi Eisav becho-
both dictate and enforce them. With- Anochi, and illustrated with a dra- recha,” whereas Eisav merely states,
out this ‘preamble,’ we might mistak- matic Midrash. “Ani Eisav.” Lekach Tov connects
enly consider these rules as the “10 When Kayin kills Hevel, he is con- Anochi to G-d’s ability to forgive us
Suggestions,” rather than immutable, fronted by G-d and castigated for when we err and comfort us when
1
eternal, mandatory foundation-stones his crime. Hevel, however, plea-bar- we suffer, as well as assuring us of
of our belief system. gains. “HaShomer achi Anochi,” he Divine assistance, as in Bereishit 46:4:
says. Though usually understood as “Anochi will descend with you to Egypt
and Anochi will bring you back up.”
“” All the mitzvot which a question, it can also be interpreted Lekach Tov sums up all this when
as a statement. “The guardian of my
follow – not just the
he quotes Jeremiah 29:23: “I, Anochi,
other nine in this list, brother – and indeed, of all life – is am the One who knows, and I bear
Anochi!” argued Kayin. “If Hevel is
witness.”
but every one of the dead, then clearly You, Anochi, the
613 mitzvot, emanate arbiter of all Creation, wanted it to be In short, G-d is watching.
that way!”
from a Supreme
and Divine source Of course, though G-d-Anochi does 1 “Anochi, Anochi hu menachemchem,” Isaiah
indeed have sway over life and death, 51:12.
He also grants freedom of choice to
It is, leHavdil, akin to the policeman humanity, a freedom which Kayin
who first shows his badge and estab- abused, and ultimately must atone for.
lishes his credentials prior to stating Rabbis Stewart Weiss is director of the
or administering the law. But why the somewhat unusual term, Jewish Outreach Center of Ra'anana and
Anochi? Would not Ani have served the father of Staff Sgt. Ari Weiss z"l, who
This truth is reinforced and amplified the same purpose? What does this fell in a fire-fight with Hamas terrorists in
by the adjoining statement that G-d particular name imply? 2002

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