The basic declaration of Judaism is the Sh'ma Yisrael: "Listen, Israel, HaShem our G-d, HaShem is One." (Devarim 6:4) According to Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch 61:6), we must, during the daily recital of the Sh'ma, stress the word "One," and in particular its last letter in Hebrew, the dalet, and have in mind that we crown HaShem King over Heaven and Earth and that He rules over the four (the number value of the letter dalet) winds of the world.



Most interpret the four winds to be the four wind directions: North, South, East, and West. An alternative interpretation for the four winds imposes itself through modern physics. Three-dimensional space and one-dimensional time constitute an undividable four-dimensional space-time manifold that is the basis for all theories of physics. The four winds may thus be seen as the four dimensions of space-time. This interpretation appropriately increases the scope of HaShem's Kingship: His rule is not limited to the two-dimensional surface of the Earth - He rules over the whole Universe and over all of its history.



Why is it that Jewish Law instructs us to think so emphatically about HaShem ruling the four winds of the Universe when we proclaim His Unity? Perhaps the reason is that the four winds constitute the most overt proof of HaShem's Unity. If this indeed was the view of our Sages, modern science gives strong support for it, if the four winds are seen as the space-time dimensions.



The space-time manifold, the Universe without its content, is far from "nothing." It is the domain of the forces of Nature and, as such, it has been the object of intensive scientific research that has produced deep understanding. Though hard to grasp for the layman, the essence of the field of study is well described through its keywords: symmetry, invariance and unification. All fundamental forces of Nature - gravity, electro-magnetism and the forces that cause radioactivity and power the Sun - have been shown to stem from a single principle relating to mathematical symmetries in the space-time manifold and other, hidden, dimensions of the Universe.



The Unity that shines through the theories of modern physics is stunning. Its nature is abstract, its only formulation deeply mathematical. It is a precious gift to those who learned it, a true revelation, which zealous scientists - most of them Jews - merited bringing to mankind.



Why is it that we have to crown HaShem King over Heaven and Earth when we proclaim HaShem's Unity? As long as mankind does not recognize Him as the King, HaShem's Unity is compromised, as it were, both in Heaven and on Earth. Jews should teach mankind more than science. Israel's mission is to teach mankind the truth of Torah, and ultimately to bring all nations under His Kingship.



"And HaShem will be King over all the Earth. On that day, HaShem will be One and His Name One." (Zecharia 14:9)