vii Derech Mitzvosecha for connection with G-d. Our Sages refer to it as the yetzer hara, the evil inclination. In chassidic terminology, it is called the nefesh habehamis, the animal soul. But most of us know it so well that we don't need a name for it. It's the dimension of our life that looks at the material reality that confronts us and desires very little more than its own satisfaction. Now, our lives are a tug of war between these two aspects of our being: our inner G-dly core and our ordinary material consciousness. To point us in the direction of the spiritual, G-d gave us the Torah and its mitzvos, which provide us with guidelines and goals for our conduct. The commandment to believe in G-d mandates that we make the awareness of Him part of our lives, not only occasionally, when our spiritual consciousness is inspired, but continually. Indeed, our Rabbis6 consider this commandment of such fundamental importance that they identify it with the verse:7 "I am G-d, your L-rd" which begins the Ten Commandments. For every dimension of our spiritual service depends on developing an ongoing relationship with G-d.

KNOWING AND BELIEVING In his treatise Mitzvas HaAmanas Elokus, the Tzemach Tzedek8 expounds upon the definition of the mitzvah "I am G-d, your L-rd." He explains that there are some9 who interpret the mitzvah as mandating the knowledge of G-d, while others10 construe the mitzvah as one of faith and belief.

6. Rambam, loc. cit; Sefer HaChinuch, mitzvah 25. 7. Shmos 20:2. 8. R. Menachem Mendel (1789-1866), the third Lubavitcher ; known by the title of his halachic responsa as "the Tzemach Tzedek"; grandson of the Alter Rebbe, nephew and son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe, and father of the Rebbe Maharash. 9. See Rambam, Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah 1:1; Rav Kapach's translation of Sefer HaMitzvos, loc. cit, et al. 10. See Ibn Tibbon's translation of Sefer HaMitzvos, loc. cit.; Rosh Amanah, et al.