Perashat Yitro

Perashat Yitro

Much has been written, spoken and argued about the Ten Commandments throughout history. Even Hollywood had its share of films dealing with the Ten Commandments.  The latest one “Exodus: Gods and Kings” can’t quite live up to its classic source material. As one critic said “If you re going to make a movie about a religious story then you cannot avoid the religion pat of it.  If you don’t believe the story, perhaps you shouldn’t make the movie”

There have been several landmark decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of having the Ten Commandments displayed on public or governmental property. Our Sages in the Talmud and later on in history have argued over the number of the Ten Commandments; were they really 10, 11 or 12 commandments in the Scriptures? Were they all commandments, or can we say that the first two were just statements of faith?

The Ten Commandments appear for the first time in Scripture in this week’s Perashat Yitro. Though they are the most famous of all the commandments, our Sages tell us that they are just a part of a total of 613 commandments in the Torah. They do not carry a heavier weight or punishment for their violations than the other commandments. So why is it that they are the most famous and the most talked about in history? 

Well, when they were given, it was done so with the Revelation of the Divine Presence. G-d Himself gave the first two; everyone present heard them, and it was an awesome sight to see and experience. The legacy of the Ten Commandments was carried on by other faiths that developed from Judaism. A story in the Oral Law recounts the conversation that the A-mighty had with other nations and Peoples when He offered them the Ten Commandments. He offered it first to the Ishmaelites, who in turn asked, “What is s written in it?”  G-d replied that is says ‘Thou shall not steal’. The Ishmaelites replied that it is their nature to have ‘their hand is in everything’  - therefore meaning they cannot obey the commandment of ‘Thou shall not steal’.  The A-mighty went to the Moabites to offer it to them, and they asked, “What is written in it?”  G-d said it is written ‘Thou shall not commit incest’. The Moabites replied that their mere existence was through the incestuous relationship between a father and his daughter, therefore they couldn’t accept it. The A-mighty went to the Edomites, the descendants of Esav. They asked Him, “What is written in it?”  G-d answered, it is written ‘Though shall not kill’. The Edomites replied that they survive because they live ‘by the sword’ and therefore they cannot accept it. Finally, G-d went to the Israelites and offered it to them; their answer was ‘We shall do and we shall obey.’ – no questions asked!

It was not until the Israelites accepted it wholeheartedly and thousands of years had passed that other faiths took upon themselves the values and the morals of the Ten Commandments. Now, practically the entire world considers our Commandments sacred and attempt to abide by them. That is one of the thousands of contributions that the Jewish People gave to the world.