The Ten Commandments Project Blog
Moses’ Three Chapters
You said you’d stand by me in the middle of Chapter Three Elvis Costello To fully appreciate Moses’ story and accomplishments, earlier scriptural themes must be considered. Long before his birth, during the time of the Patriarchs, biblical themes emerged. Three of these themes are embedded within the three chapters in Moses’ life- the Palace,…
The Name: Psalm 113’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
I’ve Got a Name, I’ve Got a Name Jim Croce The Tetragrammaton- God’s four letter name- plays a central role in the Ten Commandments. In the Hebrew letters, it is spelled “yud, hay, vav, hay.” For this discussion’s purposes, The Name or the Lord refers to the Tetragrammaton. In Jewish Orthodox scriptural publications, the word…
The Perfect Swear? Vayechi’s Haftarah Ten Commandments’ Moment
Torah Reading Services include a supplemental scriptural read called the Haftarah. This canonized Extra-Pentateuchal reading was selected as it bared some relationship to the particular weekly or holiday Torah Portion. By Extra-Pentaeuchal, it means that the reading comes from other parts of the Hebrew Bible- either Prophets or Writings. Preliminary Notes With this being this…
Vayigash’s Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Real Estate Polemic?
But the land shall not be sold permanently, because the land is mine, because you are aliens and visitors with me! Leviticus 25:23 While Real Property is not directly addressed within the Ten Commandments, theologically, it is. A Ten Commandments’ real estate reference leads us to a socio-economic controversy that remains relevant in present day…
RIP, A Hanukkah Legend
While Adam Sandler and Woody Guthrie ventured into writing Hanukkah songs, they don’t hold a candle to another singer-songwriter. It was American musician, satirist and mathematician Tom Lehrer who arguably wrote and performed the holiday’s best American-based tune. While Mr. Sandler’s Hanukkah tune is quite funny, there is no dreydeling around on this choice. Mr.…
A Mikeitz’ Ten Commandments’ Moment: The Nature of Words
While Joseph’s narrative is packed full of drama, it also includes a multitude of meaningful moments of the Ten Commandments variety. One is an exchange between Joseph and his brothers in the Torah Portion Mikeitz. This particular interaction touches on the Swearing Commandment- “Thou Shalt Not Use the Lord’s name in vain.” Swearing, within the…
A Hanukkah Ten Commandments’ Moment: Covenant Signs Matter
I saw the sign And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign Ace of Base Biblical Covenants can include signs. From Noah’s Post-Flood World to Abraham to the Children of Israel on Mt. Sinai, each of these eternal God-Human accords have a symbol. Thus, seeing a rainbow or attending a bris [ritual circumcision…
Blogging Tips 2025
The Times They Are A’ Changin Bob Dylan Since my last Blogging Tips’ post, much has changed. Thus, before year’s end, I felt it was time to offer up some reflections and recommendations. For those unfamiliar with my background, I began with a professional blog which eventually became a nationally recognized. I then took on…
Vayeshev: Origins of Humility?
And the man Moses was very humble, more than every human who was on the face of the earth Numbers 12:3 How does one become humble? The Torah Portion Vayeshev provides an answer; it is a Master Class in humiliation. Humiliation. as Vayeshev indicates, is a humbling mechanism. The Hebrew Bible values an individual’s capacity…
Vayishlach:The Line
At that time many who sought righteousness and justice went out into the wilderness… 1 Maccabees 2:29 Do societies have breaking points? Can there be immovable cries of ‘enough is enough!’? If so, are leaders involved? Do these leaders possess unique capacities and characteristics? The answers to these questions begin with the Torah Portion Vayishlach.…
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The Ten Commandments Project 