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UNE RÉFLEXION SUR PARSHAT TETZAVEH 5786

Tetzaveh – “And They Shall Know That I Am the Eternal”

Exodus 29:46

“And they shall know that I am the Eternal, their G-d, who brought them out of the land of Egypt in order to dwell among them – I am the Eternal, their G-d.”

This verse raises an intriguing question:
Why does it say “they shall know”?
Did the Israelites not already know this?

After all, they had witnessed the Exodus from Egypt, seen the plagues, and crossed the Sea of Reeds. What was still missing from their knowledge?

Knowing Is More Than Seeing

The classical commentators explain that this verse does not refer to intellectual knowledge, but to inner awareness.

Chizkuni and Ibn Ezra explain that the people would only truly understand pourquoi G-d brought them out of Egypt:
not merely to grant freedom, but to create a dwelling place for G-d, so that His presence—the Shechinah—could dwell among human beings.

This had already been foretold at the burning bush, when G-d said to Moses:

“You will serve G-d on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

The redemption from Egypt was therefore not an endpoint, but a beginning.

A World in Which G-d Can Dwell

That beginning requires a world in which G-d’s presence can become visible.
The Jewish people contribute to this by studying, teaching and fulfilling the Torah. In order to do this properly, however, a just and moral world is needed.

This is where Noachides play an essential role. By observing the Seven Noahide Laws, they help establish a world founded on justice, honesty, and responsibility. In this way, humanity moves closer to the shared goal: creating a world that is a dwelling place for G-d.

G-d Remains Our G-d — Even When We Do Not Feel Him

Or HaChaim adds a deeper dimension to this verse. The repetition of the words “I am the Eternal, their G-d” teaches that even when G-d’s presence is not felt or visibly manifest, He remains our G-d.

At the same time, he makes a challenging point:
G-d is truly “our G-d” only when we recognize Him as such. When this awareness fades, so too does the willingness to live according to His guidance.

This applies not only to Jews, but also to non-Jews.
Recognizing G-d as G-d means living in accordance with His will—through the 613 commandments for Jews and the Seven Noahide Laws for non-Jews.

“But Isn’t Living Honestly Difficult?”

En Likutei Sichot, a familiar concern is raised: living according to G-d’s guidance can appear economically and practically challenging. For Jews, religious obligations bring clear limitations, but for both Jews and non-Jews alike, conducting business honestly can feel like a disadvantage. It may seem that competitors who are less careful about integrity have the upper hand.

This is precisely where the meaning of G-d “dwelling among us” becomes clear.

G-d’s Presence Is Revealed Through Honesty

One of the fundamental Noahide prohibitions is the prohibition of theft. This commandment goes far beyond overt stealing. It includes any situation in which a person knowingly or unknowingly gains an unfair advantage at the expense of another.

Honest conduct in business and commerce is therefore not an optional moral refinement, but a core element of spiritual responsibility.

This includes:

A person may appear outwardly proper while still acting unjustly—for example, by making a product seem more valuable than it truly is, or by delivering slightly less than what was agreed upon. Even small discrepancies undermine trust—and it is precisely this trust upon which G-d’s presence in the world depends.

G-d Is Not Bound by “Normal Logic”

G-d’s response to concerns about honesty is powerful:

“I brought you out of Egypt.”

No slave had ever escaped Egypt, yet G-d led millions out and enriched them greatly. This demonstrates that G-d is not bound by natural laws or human calculations.

Those who live according to G-d’s guidance are not confined to what seems “logical” or “economically safe.” Provision and reward may come in ways that surpass human understanding.

And this applies to every person who lives by G-d’s laws.

The Deeper Meaning of “They Shall Know”

When someone thinks, “If I am always honest, I may lose my competitive edge,” the Torah teaches the opposite. Honesty is an expression of trust that sustenance ultimately comes not from manipulation or deception, but from G-d.

This is the deeper meaning of:

“And they shall know that I am the Eternal.”

Not: they possess information,
but: they live with that awareness.

The Core Message of Tetzaveh

Tetzaveh teaches that faith is not only about remembering miracles of the past, but about a daily awareness that G-d wishes to dwell among us.

Not only that He knows us—
but that we know Him.

“And they shall know that I am the Eternal, their G-d.”

This knowing is not abstract knowledge.

It is a relationship expressed through action.

Closing Thought

True knowledge of G-d is expressed not through words or beliefs alone, but through actions. When honesty guides us, even when no one is watching, we show that we truly know who G-d is.

That knowledge becomes visible in how we weigh, measure, price, and conduct our affairs.

Par Angelique Sijbolts
Nous remercions le rabbin Tani Burton pour ses commentaires.





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