I TORAH PORTION I
The Two Versions Of
The 10 Commandments
RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ
Special to The Jewish News
T
he Torah portion for
this week is one of the
richest in the entire
five books of Moses, for it con-
tains the 10 Commandments
and the , Sh'ma. But unlike
other portions, this sidrah
begins with an historical
setting.
Moses knows that he will
not be permitted to enter the
Promised Land. He gathers
his people together to give
what has become one of the
most famous farewell ad-
dresses in world literature.
He tells them how he led
them out of Egypt. He tells
them what they need to do in
order to enter the Promised
Land and how they have pro-
ven unworthy.
Because of their lack of
faith, the whole generation of
Shabbat Nachamu,
Parashat
Va'etchanan:
Deuteronomy
3:23-7:11,
Isaiah 40:1-41:26
the Exodus has been con-
demned to die in the
wilderness, including Moses.
Even Moses' own plea to be
allowed to enter the Promis-
ed Land has been rejected by
God. Gathering his people on
the eastern side of the Jor-
dan, where victorious wars
against Sihon and Og had
marked the end of Israel's
wanderings, Moses now
prepares his successor,
Joshua, to lead the people in-
to Canaan.
Moses begins his eloquent
oration summarizing the fun-
damental requirements
which God asks and demands
of His people in every age.
Most people do not know
that there are two versions of
the 10 Commandments in the
Torah. One is in Exodus,
Chapter 20, the other in
Deuteronomy, Chapter 5.
Christianity and Judaism
both regard the 10 Command-
ments as fundamentally im-
portant and the basis of the
moral system of religion. But
in Judaism, the introductory
statement, "I am the Lord
your God who brought you
out of the land of Egypt, out
of the house of bondage" is
considered the first com-
mandment, with the second
Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus
of Temple Beth El.
dealing with polytheism and
idolatry.
The Septuagint, the Greek
translation, numbers them
differently. The Greek ver-
sion, "I am the Lord your
God," is an introduction to the
first commandment, "You
shall have no other gods
before me," the second com-
mandment being: "You shall
make no graven images."
All versions deal with
idolatry, profanity, the Sab-
bath, honoring parents,
murder, adultery, theft, per-
jury and covetousness. The ar-
rangement of these com-
mandments, corresponding to
the ten fingers on one's hand,
made it easy for ancient
Hebrews to recall each
commandment.
Note, too, the different ver-
sions between the two
statements, the one in Ex-
odus and the one in
Deuteronomy. In Exodus,
Israel is bidden to imitate
God the creator, who rested
on the seventh day. Similarly,
once a week on the Sabbath,
Israel is bidden to re-enact
that creative process and
honor the Sabbath.
But in Deuteronomy, the
Sabbath is linked not to God
the creator, but to God the
redeemer, who redeemed
Israel from Egyptian slavery.
The duty of rest and worship
on the Sabbath is identified to
recall that all servants of God
are human and were liber-
ated from Egypt.
Thus in Deuteronomy the
Sabbath is based not on
prehistoric creation, but on
the historic creation of God's
people redeemed from slavery,
from human tyranny. The
Decalogue in both Exodus
and Deuteronomy bids Israel
to remember and keep the
Sabbath.
Note, too, that the com-
mandments are dramatically
addressed to the individual.
The pronoun is singular, not
plural. "Thou shalt not kill."
"Thou Shalt not steal." In
this way Judaism is per-
sonalized. The command-
ments are in a form of a direct
address from God, thus singl-
ing out each individual in
Israel as its recipient and the
one who is required to obey.
YI Will Host
Family Program
On Shabbat Nachamu,
Saturday, Young Israel of
Greenfield will have a family
shalosh seudos for its
members. The guest speaker
will be Rabbi Edward
Feigelbaum.
Fashion, Services
Fabulous Treats!
SUCH
Orchard Lake Rd. North of Maple, West Bloomfield
COME JOIN WITH US FOR PRAYER, STUDY AND SOCIABILITY
CONGREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL OF WEST BLOOMFIELD
4200 WALNUT LAKE ROAD
"THE WARM, CARING AND CONCERNED SYNAGOGUE"
INVITES YOU TO JOIN WITH US IN PERPETUATING
TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM IN WEST BLOOMFIELD
• DAILY, SABBATH AND HOLYDAY SERVICES
• TWO DAY WEEKLY HEBREW-RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
AFFILIATED WITH UNITED HEBREW SCHOOLS
• SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP RATES FOR SENIORS, NEWLYWEDS OR SINGLES
• COST OF HIGH HOLYDAY TICKETS APPLICABLE TOWARDS MEMBERSHIP
• CHAVURAH GROUP OF YOUNG MARRIEDS ACTIVELY INVOLVED
• ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
• PROGRAMS FOR SINGLES
ATTEND OUR INSPIRATIONAL HIGH HOLYDAY SERVICES
DR. SHERMAN P. KIRSCHNER
CANTOR BARRY ULRYCH
DR. ALAN FELDMAN
RABBI
HAZZAN
PRESIDENT
CONTACT DR. JERRY AND MARLENE ROSE, MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSONS
851-0330 OR THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE, 681-5353
FOR MEMBERSHIP OR HIGH HOLYDAY TICKETS.
YOUR. CHILDREN HAVE
QUESTIONS. WE HAVE
ANSWERS. ABOUT ..
• what it means to be a Jew • what's happening in Israel
• Jewish history • learning Hebrew • and more
Congregation Beth Shalom Religious School (a Synagogue affiliated school) gives
your children a well-rounded Jewish education in a warm, loving atmosphere.
Now offering a satellite school at the West Bloomfield Jewish Communi-
ty Center for grades 3-7 on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
(all classes K-7 meet Sunday mornings at the Synagogue)
I
Enrollment is Open to Members and Non-Members.
Cyril Servetter, Educational Director'
Congregation Beth Shalom
14601 W. Lincoln, Oak Park, MI 48237
547-7972
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
33