biblical literacy – The Ten Commandments Project

Economics in the Torah: Vayigash: Jubilee’s Genesis?

An anime-style illustration of famous economist David Ricardo speaking with Joseph about economics. David Ricardo should be recognizable as the historical English classical economist, dressed in early 19th-century attire; Joseph should appear as a dignified biblical-era figure in robes. Show them engaged in thoughtful conversation in a warm, scholarly setting with subtle economic imagery such as books, scrolls, and trade goods. Respectful, cinematic composition, expressive faces, polished anime art, no text or captions.

Economic-oriented laws date to antiquity. Rent control, minimum wage and pricing controls are some modern examples of these measures. Each law is meant to address particular concerns- housing, the ability to earn enough to afford life’s necessities, and the ability to afford an essential good. Their effectiveness and positive impact are subject to debate. OneContinue reading “Economics in the Torah: Vayigash: Jubilee’s Genesis?”

Miketz’ Biblical Literacy Moment

Use the original anime illustration as the source. Keep the same Pharaoh, Joseph, psychologist setting, anime style, clothing, facial features, colors, composition, and psychiatrist office. Turn the psychiatrist couch so it faces in the opposite direction, while keeping Pharaoh lying on the couch and Joseph seated in a chair taking notes. Preserve the overall scene and do not change the characters or add anyone.

In the Book of Zechariah, the Lord spirited Zerubbabel. He, one of the first group of Jews returning from Babylonian Exile, was tasked to rebuild the Temple. In imbuing Zerubbabel, the Lord famously stated: “Not through might or through power, but through My spirit.” Zechariah 4:6. An individual divine spirited is not a one-time scriptureContinue reading “Miketz’ Biblical Literacy Moment”

Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra: Vayishlach’s Biblical Literacy Moment

Anime-style illustration of a Star Trek Tamarian character alongside Jacob and Esau, preserving the existing scene, characters, composition, and visual style. Remove all communication symbols, icons, glyphs, captions, speech symbols, and floating symbolic markings from the image. Do not include Captain Picard. Keep the characters and background intact.

For Star Trek TNG fans, the phrase “Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra” is meaningful. To them, it rekindles their memory of a television episode that explored language and communication. In it, the Enterprise crew encountered an alien species- the Tamarians- for which their universal translator did not work. The problem was that the Tamarians’ languageContinue reading “Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra: Vayishlach’s Biblical Literacy Moment”

Institutionalized Randomness: The Goat, A Yom Kippur Thought

Two goats walking through an ancient desert settlement beneath a large temple

Who will live, and Who will die Yom Kippur’s Torah Portion is the goat on randomness. What should we take away from the universe filled with uncertainty? Yom Kippur- the Day of Atonement- is a moment in which life’s uncertainty is brought to the forefront. It is done with the reading of one of theContinue reading “Institutionalized Randomness: The Goat, A Yom Kippur Thought”

Ha’Azinu’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

Mother and child reading “The Starry Moon and the Whispering Woods”

These go to eleven Nigel Tufnel Moses, in the Ha’Azinu Torah Portion, lectures to the Children of Israel their covenantal responsibilities. In his speech, Moses raises parental responsibilities of the requirement to teach their progeny the commandments. While the Decalogue served as a Community Code of Conduct, the Commandments did not fully lay out theContinue reading “Ha’Azinu’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

In Abstentia: Nitzavim

Four people sharing a meal around a table in a rustic room

We were all at Mt. Sinai To fully understand the Ten Commandments, one must not only explore the law, but also the spirituality attached to it. Legally, the Decalogue presents as a contract; a covenant. With contracts, there are parties. The Ten Commandments’ two parties are God and the Children of Israel. These two areContinue reading “In Abstentia: Nitzavim”

The Bigger Picture: Ki Teitzei

Museum visitors viewing Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting in a gallery

What is the Torah’s Big Picture? The answer can be achieved by making sense of a one particular perplexing commandment from the Torah Portion Ki Teitzei. Before doing so, one must understand that the Pentateuch, some opine, was intended to be a nation’s law. To accomplish this goal, the Torah is crafted with commandments thatContinue reading “The Bigger Picture: Ki Teitzei”

Thou Shalt Not Procrastinate? Ki Teitzei

Two male students in uniforms shake hands in a school hallway

Is procrastination a commandment violation? The Torah Portion Ki Teizei addresses this put-off subject tied to the Decalogue. In a passage exploring the significance of the passage of time, the Ten Commandments becomes relevant. Beyond excoriating the usual suspects- all of us who delay fulfilling commitments, the Torah implores people to do one of theContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not Procrastinate? Ki Teitzei”

A Biblical Literacy Moment: The Prophet Defined

Elder pouring oil on kneeling young man's head in a biblical village at sunset

The prophet’s role is revealed in the Torah Portion Shoftim. Moses evokes Mt. Sinai’s fireworks and the Ten Commandments to explain one of the prophet’s essential duties. With this, Moses also introduces a qualifying requirement for the position. To appreciate Moses’ retelling of what transpired at Mt. Sinai, a reading of Exodus’ contemporaneous account isContinue reading “A Biblical Literacy Moment: The Prophet Defined”

Re-eh: The Realities of Reality

Wallet with Japanese yen bills and cards held out to a smiling cashier in a convenience store

Brother, can you spare a dime? Bing Crosby Truth, justice and righteousness are the cries of the Hebrew Bible Prophets. Jeremiah 4:2. Committing a righteous act, sometimes, isn’t easy. This is particularly the case when it comes to a troubling Torah Portion Re-eh Commandment concerning indigency. Addressing an indigent’s needs proves quite problematic with theContinue reading “Re-eh: The Realities of Reality”