This maamar explains the verse "And you shall know today and take it to your heart that Hashem is God..." (Deuteronomy 4:39). The Alter Rebbe distinguishes between knowing God and merely believing in God. He teaches that the purpose of Torah and mitzvot is to transform faith into a living, heartfelt awareness of God's presence.
The Torah commands both knowledge (da'at) and faith (emunah). Knowledge means recognizing and feeling God's presence in creation, while faith refers to believing in God's infinite Essence, which is beyond human understanding.
The verse "Shepherd (nourish) faith" teaches that faith should not remain an abstract belief. Through Torah study, prayer, mitzvot, and acts of kindness, faith grows until it becomes a deep inner awareness, almost as clear as physical sight.
When we recite "Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad," we declare that the infinite God should become revealed within our lives. This awareness awakens a powerful love for God and brings spiritual joy, symbolized by the Torah's description of the Land of Israel as "flowing with milk and honey."
The word "today" teaches that only in this physical world can we transform ourselves through Torah, mitzvot, repentance, and refining our character. The World to Come is primarily a place to receive reward, while this world is the place where change and spiritual growth occur.
People naturally experience spiritual highs and lows. One should not become discouraged by setbacks, because this struggle is part of God's design. Through perseverance in serving Hashem, a person can gradually overcome the evil inclination. In the future, during the Messianic era, impurity will be removed from the world, and all people will know God.
The Alter Rebbe teaches that Judaism seeks much more than intellectual belief. The goal is to transform faith into a deep, living relationship with God through Torah study, prayer, mitzvot, and acts of kindness. While God's presence within creation can be understood, His infinite Essence is beyond human comprehension and must be approached through faith.
By serving Hashem "today", in this physical world, we prepare ourselves for the ultimate future when "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God." At that time, faith will become complete knowledge, and God's presence will be openly revealed throughout creation.