Is that what You have to say?

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Bs"d

Is that what You have to say?

 

We are told by our Sages that all Jews from all generations were present at the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

Now imagine you standing there. For many months, you have been preparing for this momentous occasion. You have counted down the days breathlessly. This was to be a one-time event, never before and never after. To see G-d Himself in all His glory, what a sight to behold!

Finally, the day arrives. After three days of intense prayer and preparation, the moment has come. With lighting and thunder, smoke and fire, G-d makes his first grand appearance before his chosen nation. Awesome!

With a fast-beating heart and a mind overwhelmed with emotion, you stand there with your pad and paper ready to transcribe the constitution of the Jewish people.

BOOM! G-d's voice is heard throughout the universe: "I am the Lord your G-d that has taken you out of Egypt."

OK, sounds fair. After all, He first has to introduce Himself! The second one, "Thou shall have no other G-d," doesn't raise too many eyebrows either; its common sense that one should remain loyal to his boss.

BOOM! "Don't use my name in vain!" The pad continues to fill up – no question marks, it's all totally logical.

The fourth clause changes direction. It is no longer about belief and respect, now it's about action: "Keep the Shabbat holy!" Wow!

Then you hear the words "Honor your father and mother." You pause for a second. Did G-d have to come down to this world to teach us about honoring our parents?

But you ponder for only a moment, quickly reminding yourself of the confrontation you had but a few minutes ago with your mom. Yes! What a real challenge it is to respect and honor your parents at all times!

You wait expectantly for the next set of five.

And then the big bang comes – "Don't kill!" You fall over backwards; all your journalistic training has not prepared you for this one!

"Don't commit adultery!" For Heaven's sake… "Don't' steel! Don't be jealous!"

There are 613 commandments in the Torah. Aren't any of them more "Jewish" and G-dly than murder, adultery, theft, lies and jealousy? Did G-d have nothing more important to share with us then basic civility and common sense?

It takes some time and, slowly, you understand. As you travel through history and meet the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Cossacks and, finally, the Holocaust, you understand that nothing is too obvious.

Unfortunately, personal morality has too often failed humankind. Social norms are relative, and sophistication is no guarantee of peace. As world-renowned Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel put it, "Cold-blooded murder and culture did not exclude each other. If the Holocaust proved anything, it is that a person can both love poems and kill children".  

The only absolute morality is Divine morality – a code of law made by G-d for man, not by man. History has proven it over and over again.

In His first address to the nation G-d put down the rule of all rules: "Do it because I said so. For that is the only way for common sense to remain common."

*

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

 

Moshiach Now!

Shabbat Shalom

(Rabbi) Levi Avtzon