G-d appears to Moshe and declares: "I am HaShem. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as E-l Sha-dai, but by my name HaShem I did not make myself known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3 )


This verse clearly needs clarification, as we see in fact that G-d did appear with the

This verse clearly needs clarification.

attribute described by the name HaShem to all our forefathers. To Avraham He appears, as He said to him, "I am HaShem who brought you out of Ur Kasdeem." (Genesis 15:7) To Yitzchak, we see as well: "He went up from there to Be'er Sheva. HaShem appeared to him that night." (Genesis 26:23-24) To Jacob as well, as we read: "And behold, HaShem was standing over him and He said, 'I am HaShem, G-d of Avraham your father and G-d of Isaac.'" (Genesis 28:13)


What, then, does G-d mean when he says, "but my name HaShem I did not make revealed to them"?


Ramban (Rabbi Moshe Ben-Nachman) maintains that E-l Sha-dai represents G-d working within nature. In all of G-d's dealings with the Patriarchs, He is discovered, revealed and revered with the framework of the natural world. Therefore, G-d is telling Moshe that heretofore G-d did not feel it necessary to break the rules of nature to fully express His message to and through the Patriarchs. Our patriarchs felt the intimacy and compassion of the HaShem aspect in their life and they did not need for Him to be revealed to them in some dramatic or supernatural way.


The name of HaShem (translated as "the L-rd"), as Rashi points out, is the essential name of G-d as, working outside of the limitations of nature, He will fulfill his promises and actualizes them. G-d has proclaimed all His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but the time for their fulfillment had not yet arrived. Now, HaShem, representing the attribute of mercy and of the keeping of promises, will be revealed in all His glory outside of the parameters of nature.


What is interesting to note in this regard is that when G-d directs Moshe to tell the people of Israel that He will redeem the people out of Egypt, He uses five different expressions of redemption. The first four are the basis of the four cups of wine at the Passover table.


"Wherefore, say unto the children of Israel: I am HaShem, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments; and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am HaShem your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (Exodus 6:6- 7)


The fifth is the basis for Elijah's cup or the cup of redemption, which refers to G-d bringing His people into the land of promise.


"And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning which I lifted up My hand to give it to Avraham, to Yitzchak, and to Yaacov; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am HaShem." ( Exodus 6:8)


The ultimate redemption will involve entering into the land that has been given to them as a heritage, the land of Avraham , Yitzchak and Yaacov, and in so doing, clearly revealing the declaration "I am HaShem."

The ultimate redemption will involve entering into the land that has been given to them as a heritage.



The use of the names of the forefathers in this verse almost imply a return to the revelation of G-d's involvement in the world as the one described by E-l Sha-dai, G-d working miraculously through and within the framework of the natural world. Yet, G-d ends the verse with the statement, "I am HaShem."


There is a great truth being revealed here about the world in general and the land of Israel in particular. The distance between Heaven and Earth can, at times, seem like forever. There are times when that distance disappears. There are places on this Earth where that distance seems to be infinitely far and there are places on this Earth where Heaven touches the Earth. Israel is the latter place.


Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaacov sensed the miraculous nature of G-d within the very nature of the land of Israel. Moshe is being told by HaShem that He, G-d, will create miracle after miracle to bring His people out of the spiritual and physical bondage of Egypt. But at the end of the process, they will learn to sense that same miraculous nature in every flower, every birth and every event they will encounter in the land of Israel.


Living in Israel involves great effort. The greatest effort, though, involves not missing the miracles that occur around us every day. Without that awareness, this land can become a threatening or threatened location. It is only with that awareness that one can survive the darkness that envelops those without that same insight. Only with that vision can one overcome the small-minded actions of small men in high places. It is only with that awareness that one can have the hope and courage to continue down the long, arduous path in this wondrous land.


David Rubin (H.y.d.) and Achikam Amichai (H.y.d.), who were brutally murdered by members of Abu Mazen's police forces, had that realization. They had a passion to explore every hill and valley of this great land. They were both fiercely committed young men who overcame all obstacles to join the elite units of the Israeli army, in order to

The greatest effort, though, involves not missing the miracles that occur around us every day.

protect this land. In spite of that passion and regardless of that Divinely inspired love, they were cut down by the forces of hatred. Tragically, they were murdered by guns that may have been the weapons given to the Palestinian forces by the Israeli government itself in a "gesture of peace." They were gunned down by people who may have been amongst those trained by the American CIA for supposedly "peaceful" purposes.


Yet, in spite of that tragedy and deep loss, their short lives amongst us elevated this land another spiritual notch, one step closer to uniting the spiritual and the physical. Ours is the land where Heaven touches the Earth; the land where the spiritual intensity of the Hidden Name is united with the Name of G-d revealed in nature.


That is the process that will unveil that which is described in the prophecies of Zechariah: "And HaShem shall be king over all the Earth; in that day shall HaShem be One, and His name will be One." ( Zechariah 14:9)