The Torah Portion Tazria spells out an essential commandment. It is one that rivals the Decalogue in import. The portion commands that “on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumsized.” Leviticus 12:3. In Hebrew, the ceremony for that event is called “Brit Milah”. With this, we have our Ten Commandments’ moment:Continue reading “Priorities: Tazria’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Category Archives: sabbath
Lost In Translation? “Shall” or “May”
Legalese is full of magical incantation; alchemous word precision can secure financial victory or exact an extended incarceration. With these stakes, Judges and Lawyers use their words wisely. Ambiguity within legalese is the murky moat of despair. As such, translations of legal works can serve as bucketfuls of polluted moat water. Unclear, imprecise and biasedContinue reading “Lost In Translation? “Shall” or “May””
A Ten Commandments’ Moment From Vayakhel: Sabbath Rules
The Torah Portion Vayakhel begins with the following: “and Moses assembled all of the congregation of the Children of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord commanded to do them: Six days work shall be done, and in the seventh day you shall have a holy thing, a Sabbath, aContinue reading “A Ten Commandments’ Moment From Vayakhel: Sabbath Rules”
A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Samson
Samson’s tale of martyrdom has a few Ten Commandments’ moments. While his beginnings are quite promising, his life devolves into an endless cycle of suffering and vengeance. At the beginning, his barren mother encounters an angel who promises her a special son. She is instructed that the child would be raised as a Nazarite and thatContinue reading “A Book of Judges Ten Commandments’ Moment: Samson”
Beshalach’s Ten Commandments Moments
The Torah Portion Beshalach- which takes place in the height of the Exodus- contain three Ten Commandments’ moments worthy of discussion. The portion takes place as the Children of Israel depart from Egypt, the Children of Israel experience salvation in the parting of the Red Sea. Also, for the first time, they receive the mystery food calledContinue reading “Beshalach’s Ten Commandments Moments”
A Book of Joshua Ten Commandments’ Moment: The City of Jericho Controversy
Karate Men Bruise on the Inside So That They Don’t Show Their Weakness Eddie Murphy, Trading Places While Jericho’s walls falling down is a spectacular Book of Joshua moment, the timing of the City’s taking gives rise to a Ten Commandments’ controversy. The Master of the Universe says to Joshua: “See, I have delivered intoContinue reading “A Book of Joshua Ten Commandments’ Moment: The City of Jericho Controversy”
The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: The Book Of Jubilees
in some ancient circles, the apocryphal book of jubilees was popular. in qumran, the sect famous for the dead sea scrolls, fifteen copies of jubilees were found. the book of jubilees is believed to have been authored prior to the early first century bce. jewish annotated apocrypha. while excluded from the hebrew bible, the textContinue reading “The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: The Book Of Jubilees”
A Ten Commandments’ Hero?
unwillingness to accept ignorance is a horrible human trait. we should all be able to accept the fact that we are not all knowing. the world contains much enlightening information that could either prove us wrong or supplement our understanding. as such, we need courage to either open up our smart phones and “google” toContinue reading “A Ten Commandments’ Hero?”
A Supreme Win For The Ten Commandments
“remember the sabbath day to sanctify it. six days may you work and perform all your labor, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the lord, your god; you shall perform no labor…” exodus 20:8-10 the united states supreme court, in groff vs. dejoy, tackled the issues of employment and “sabbath observance”. the case’sContinue reading “A Supreme Win For The Ten Commandments”
Of Context in Isolation; Monday Morning Portion Quarterback
why are events blown out of proportion? context matters. in the shlach torah portion, the unthinkable happens- an “unnamed” individual is stoned to death for picking up wood on the sabbath. wild? nothing could be more “out of control” than the events happening in the portion shlach. the children of israel drama included (1) theContinue reading “Of Context in Isolation; Monday Morning Portion Quarterback”
The Ten Commandments Project 