Spirituality
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TORAH PORTION
Didn't We All
Meet At Sinai?
Shabbat Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23;
Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6.
H
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ey, haven't we met before? It
one on the table directly influences
might actually be one of the the meaning of the other. For example,
oldest pick-up lines in the
"I am the Lord your God" contrasted
world — even our ancient rabbis see
with "You must not murder" implies
it that way. They taught that all Jews
that whoever kills another destroys the
who ever lived and all Jews who ever
image of God, as each of us was cre-
will live stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai
ated in God's image.
when God gave the Torah. So before
Again, where on one side it is writ-
you answer, "buzz off" — perhaps
ten, "Have no other gods before Me"
your response could be,
opposite it is written, "You
"Maybe we met at Sinai."
must not commit adultery."
Yes, Mt. Sinai is per-
Both religion and human
haps the most defining
relationships require com-
moment in the life of our
mitment and fidelity. To
people. It was there that
worship idols is as if one
the Israelites, newly freed
has committed adultery
from slavery, received the
before God, thereby break-
Ten Commandments and
ing the covenant. This
forever sealed the covenant
methodology for interpreta-
with God. Everything that
tion continues through all
Rabbi Marla
happens from here on out
of the commandments.
R. Hor nsten
in the Torah is based on
We learn that inherent in
Special to the
this single moment. At
our covenant is the relation-
Jewish News
its essence, the Mt. Sinai
ship we build with God.
moment is about profound
Relationships are not static
learning, about the ultimate meaning
and unmoving —quite the contrary,
and purpose of our lives.
they are ever evolving, providing space
I am taken with the notion that we
to experiment, explore and discover.
all stood together at Sinai to accept
The laws weren't given simply as a
God's covenant because it means
code of how to behave, but as sign-
that we are more than a collection of
posts of how to connect and approach
histories and customs passed down
the world. They are our guides for
through the generations. It means each decision making, behavior and belief.
of us made a covenant of our own,
Observing these commandments
each in our own way, each according
means one thing to me and another to
to our interpretation of the words.
you; but hopefully, however we choose
Consequently, the commandments
to observe them, because of them we
become more than a set of laws; they
have found deeper connection and
provide deeper connection and insight meaning in our lives.
into the world and into the relation-
ship between God and humanity.
Marla Hornsten is a rabbi at Temple Israel
Throughout the generations, rab-
in West Bloomfield.
bis have tried to understand them
in various ways: by looking at them
individually or by grouping them in
Conversations
different configurations — positive vs.
How do you think the com-
negative or communal vs. individual.
mandments should be grouped
Rabbi Rachel Mikva, who edited the
together? Do you think the
book Broken Tablets, suggests that
arrangement has any particular
even their arrangement on the tablets
meaning? Why do you think the
serves as a means of understanding.
Ten Commandments have such a
The ancient rabbis ask: "How were
prominent place in Jewish life?
the Ten Commandments arranged on
Why is this the defining moment
the tablets?" Their answer: "Five on
for the Jewish people as stated
one side, five on the other.
above?
The commandment opposite each
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February 12 • 2009
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