Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah – Chapter 1: The Foundations of Divine Existence and Unity
Halacha 1 – G-d as the Primary Being
Everything begins with the knowledge that there exists a Primary Being who brings all existence into being. All created beings depend entirely on His existence.
Halacha 2 – Nothing Can Exist Without G-d
If we imagine G-d not existing (which is impossible), then no other entity could exist. All beings are contingent on Him.
Halacha 3 – G-d Exists Independently
Even if all other beings ceased to exist, G-d would remain completely unchanged, since He needs nothing and nothing sustains Him.
Halacha 4 – G-d Alone is True Existence
Scripture teaches that G-d alone possesses absolute, incomparable truth. No created being has the same kind of existence or truth.
Halacha 5 – G-d’s Infinite Power and the Motion of the Spheres
G-d governs the universe with unbounded power, illustrated by the continual movement of the celestial sphere, which must be moved by a non‑physical cause.
Halacha 6 – The Mitzvah to Know G-d
Knowing G-d is a positive commandment (“I am G-d, your Lord”). Believing in another deity violates a negative commandment and undermines the foundation of faith.
Halacha 7 – G-d’s Absolute Unity
G-d is one, but not with any form of unity known in creation. He is not a composite, not divided, not a category. His unity is completely unique and uncompounded.
Halacha 8 – G-d Has No Body
The Torah and prophets explicitly teach that G-d has no body, no form, and no spatial limitations. He cannot be compared to any physical being.
Halacha 9 – Understanding Anthropomorphic Expressions
When the Torah speaks of G-d’s “hand,” “eyes,” “feet,” etc., these are metaphors. Visions of prophets that depict G-d in forms are symbolic images suited to human understanding.
Halacha 10 – Moses’s Request to “See” G-d
Moses asked to understand G-d’s essence with clarity similar to recognizing a person. G-d responded that such full comprehension is impossible for a human, but allowed Moses to perceive something akin to G-d’s “back”—a metaphor for a limited, indirect understanding.
Halacha 11 – No Physical or Human Qualities Apply to G-d
Since G-d has no body, none of the features or actions of bodies apply to Him: no movement, time, change, emotions, or physical limitations of any sort.
Halacha 12 – All Such Descriptions Are Metaphors
Any scriptural expressions of G-d being “angry,” “happy,” “speaking,” or “laughing” are metaphors. G-d does not change; these descriptions speak in human language to help people understand divine actions.
