If any parasha is more important than another – and I’m not sure that
any is, really – then, this one is probably one of the most significant
ones in
the whole Torah. In the three chapters of Exodus that are read
today, so
much happens.
First comes Chapter 18: Yitro, who is a Midianite
priest and Moses’
father-in-law, visits Moses and counsels him about his (Moses’) having
the
sole responsibility for resolving issues among the people. He
advises Moses
to select leaders to handle the small, day-to-day crises that arose,
and
that he (Moses) should only receive the most difficult cases to
solve. Moses
accepts his father-in-law’s advice and delegates responsibility to
others;
thus beginning the process of shared leadership and the rudiments of
democracy.
I don’t believe that there is another such incident in the Torah prior
to
this
In Chapter 19, the Israelites were encamped in the
wilderness in Sinai. We are not told why he did it, but Moses
climbed to the top of Mt. Sinai and
received word from God that if the Children of Israel kept His covenant
and
His word, they would be his “treasure” among all the nations and a
kingdom of priests. At this point, which covenant and what word
are not clear. However,
when the people heard God’s word through Moses, they immediately agreed
to
the terms, no matter what they were agreeing to. Some might say
that’s when
the Israelites became the Chosen People. God must have been
pleased with
the response because he then instructs Moses to make sure the people
are
clean and ready to receive the Law on the third day hence.
That morning of the third day must have been indeed
awesome, with the shofar sounding and the mountain in smoke because, if
we believe the words of the Torah, God was descending in it.
Nowadays, one might say it could have been an earthquake and/or a
volcano. I believe the Torah is the word of God, and that this
whole scene really was the way it was because God was physically in the
midst.
Chapter 20 is the Ten Commandments. I stand
when they are read for
several reasons:
1) This was the Law that was given to the Israelites
as a covenant between them and their God.
2) The Law is the basis of ours and the Christian
tradition to this day as well as being the foundation on which so much
of modern law and order is
based.
3) The laws embodied here tell us how to follow the
basic precept of
the Torah itself: Refrain from doing to others what you would not have
them
do to you. The Ten Commandments make the How-to manual for
that project.
4) The special relationship between us and God is
also included in the Law: He brought us out of Egypt to be our God; we
are to have no other Gods but him, and we are to not use his Name in
vain. If we follow these commandments regarding our relationship
with Him, He will bless us to the thousandth generation.
This may sound naïve, but it seems to me that we Jews have kept these
commandments fairly well throughout history and still do today:
At Pesach, at least, we acknowledge that He was the one who led us out
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. When we read the Ve’ahavta
with “kavanah”, we acknowledge the first Commandment as well.
I don’t of any Jews who worship idols.
On the other hand, I for one do say His name in vain, but most of the
time when I do it, I feel bad about it afterward.
Most of the Jews I know, including myself, could maybe do more to keep
the Sabbath. A few weeks ago I began lighting candles and saying
Kiddush on Friday
night. I have long had the habit of taking a nap on Shabbat
afternoon.
My experience is that Jews honor and respect their mothers and
fathers. When we hear of parental abuse, it’s more likely than
not coming from non-Jewish children.
Jews, as a rule, don’t exhibit the violent behavior associated with
murder and armed robbery. On the other hand, our people have had
their hands in white-collar crimes, to be sure.
Adultery? You don’t hear about it much with Jews, but then it’s
not something spoken about openly in any group.
As far as bearing false witness goes, I think all of humankind is
guilty of that to some degree, whether to protect ourselves or others.
As for the last commandment, not to covet that which
belongs to our
neighbor. I personally have no need for anything from my
neighbor, but I
do find myself wanting to be like people I admire and respect. If
that’s
coveting, then I guess I violate this commandment on a regular basis.
Let’s go back to my original premise that the Ten
Commandments make
up the workbook for following the basic teaching of the Torah.
Let’s say
further that we Jews rate a strong “B” in adherence to the Law.
If that’s
the case, then it is our responsibility to obey these Commandments to
such
a degree that we are a light unto the nations and exemplary in loving
our
neighbors as ourselves. Some people - and some of these folks are
Jews themselves - say we fall short, especially with regard to our
Palestinian brethren in the Middle East. I have two things to say
to those critics:
1) Israeli “attacks” are always retaliation for
Palestinian killings.
2) There are elements among the Palestinians who wish
to see the Jews of Israel pushed into the sea – even today!
Israel has the right to defend herself against that threat!
Israelis are becoming more and more willing to give a Palestinian state
a chance, however, not at the risk of Israel’s very existence.
3) I invite all who criticize the Israeli
government’s policies vis-à-vis the Palestinian insurgence to go to
Israel and spend some time there. I guarantee
you will come back with a very different attitude - especially if you
are
a Jew.
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