The Ten Commandments Project Blog
A Secular Ten Commandments’ Takeaway
An archaeological discovery provides ample evidence how the Ten Commandments (Decalogue) promotes secular societal values. An ancient pottery shard rather than the Ten Commandments’ two stone tablets proves this assertion. A writing of either a mere scribe or laborer speaks volumes for the one inscribed by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18. The scribe or…
Acharei: On Representation
“Who represents me?” and “How did they get to represent me?” constituted puzzling political and theological questions for the Children of Israel. The Torah Portion Acharei is an example of Israelite representation’s confusing and circular nature. Acharei’s priestly representation assignment for atonement marks as a starting point for this Post’s exploration of scripture’s elections, authorizations,…
Tazria: Medicine’s Trajectory?
Before Organized Medicine, the Torah addressed the Healing Arts with a multi-factorial approach. A Pantheon of Professionals, Prophets and Priests collaborated with the Israelite Deity to address national health care concerns. The Torah Portion Tazria focuses on the Priest’s role in medicine. With Tazria, and other Torah Portions, both politics and theology flesh out various…
Metzorah: The Common Thread on Societal Needs Revealed
Economic disparity is a civilization byproduct. Accumulated wealth and income earned through labor are two agents contributing to the gap. Individuals without assets and unable to work are set back. As a result, the poor people’s societal participation and opportunities are limited. The Torah, recognizing this problem, addressed the issue within a variety of commandments.…
A Ultimate Passover Insight?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Declaration of Independence Beyond the Passover Seder’s Four Questions- the Ma Nishtanah, there is another question to be asked: what…
Consequences: Shemini
Utopian myths were shattered with Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden. A Genesis passage best explains the real world’s realities: “…[t]he ground is cursed on your account. You’ll eat from it with suffering all the days of your life. And it will grow thorn and thistle at you, and you’ll eat the…
Evolution: Tzav
…for I am the Lord Who does kindness, justice and righteousness in the land, for in these is My desire… Jeremiah 9:23 Scripture’s wisdom is partly due to the extended period of time covered. From a political viewpoint, the Hebrew Bible captures a pre-nation’s exuberance and anxiety; it documents both national and theological power struggles…
Mechanism: Vayikra
Or when he will touch a human’s impurity– for any impurity of his through which he will become impure… Leviticus 5:3 How does society address individuals’ misdeeds? Is there any written code to get them back into the fold? “No” is the answer in modernity. In antiquity, however, a written code existed; it was promulgated…
Sabbath Meaning? Vayakhel: A Ten Commandments’ Moment
And God saw everything that He made, and … it was very good. Genesis 1:31 Why is taking time off of work in the Torah so important? The Portion Vayakhel explains it in human terms. From Exodus version of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath refrain from labor was tied to the world’s creation. The rationale…
A Moment of Biblical Literacy: The Book of Ezra and Cyrus The Great
Whoever is among you of His entire people–may his God be with him–let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build the Temple of the Lord, God of Israel– He is the God!– which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:2 With historic events, i.e. the liberation of the people, joyous expressions occur. Naming…
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The Ten Commandments Project 