ten commandments – The Ten Commandments Project

The Real Reason the Ten Commandments Are Posted

Use the same anime-style image of Moses as a student in an Alabama elementary school. Keep the same character, classroom setting, composition, clothing, and visual style. Add one ordinary pencil in his hand, with natural anatomy and exactly two hands visible. Do not add a staff, extra hands, or any other object.

Alabama schools, beginning in 2027, are posting a sign with the Ten Commandments. While the posting’s legislative reasons include the Decalogue’s roots in American Political Thought and Philosophy, there is arguably another reason. The reason isn’t religious, rather, it is based upon the field of Cognitive Science. In academia, Common Knowledge is a technical term.Continue reading “The Real Reason the Ten Commandments Are Posted”

A Top Ten Torah Portion: Vayeishev

A vibrant anime-style illustration of Joseph, a biblical young man wearing an ornate, dazzling technicolor dream coat with many jewel-toned stripes, hanging out cheerfully with two friendly goats in a sunlit pastoral landscape. Whimsical, warm, expressive, richly colored, cinematic composition, tasteful and family-friendly. Do not include any text, logos, or lettering.

The Torah Portion Vayeishev is a top ten portion as far as the Ten Commandments. Not only is it entertaining as it includes the story of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, it is a Decalogue conversation piece. It breathes life into their commandments and the role they play in everyday life. oseph’s wonderful narrativeContinue reading “A Top Ten Torah Portion: Vayeishev”

Back to Basics: Vayetze’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

Anime-style illustration of Jacob, the biblical patriarch, standing at a colorful modern salad bar and thoughtfully choosing fresh vegetables and toppings. He wears modest ancient Near Eastern-inspired robes with a contemporary anime aesthetic, warm expressive features, and a gentle thoughtful expression. Bright wholesome atmosphere, abundant leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, olives, and herbs in serving trays. Clean detailed line art, vibrant colors, cinematic composition, landscape orientation, no text.

A Torah Portion Vayetze passage ignites a literary journey that leads to one of the primary aspects of both divine relationships and covenants. In Vayetze, while Jacob is fleeing to Harran to avoid his brother Esau’s wrath, he experiences a life-changing dream. This transformative event —upon review —surprisingly shares similarities to the Exodus. Some ofContinue reading “Back to Basics: Vayetze’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

Lech Lecha: Back to the Basics: Signs: The Ten Commandments’ Moment

Anime-style illustration of Abraham standing beside a table abundant with lox, bagels, and cream cheese, carefully making himself a plate of food. Abraham is portrayed as a dignified ancient Near Eastern man in historically inspired robes, with expressive anime features. Warm welcoming atmosphere, detailed food presentation, tasteful historical setting, vibrant polished anime art, no text.

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign Ace of Base In that moment, I didn’t see the sign. I didn’t want to. It was one of the greatest moments of my life and I couldn’t watch. Not only did I have the best seat in the house, IContinue reading “Lech Lecha: Back to the Basics: Signs: The Ten Commandments’ Moment”

Back To Basics: Noah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

An original anime-style illustration of Noah, depicted as a thoughtful middle-aged man with a long gray beard and simple ancient Near Eastern clothing, sitting and reading a humorous book titled “Law for Dummies.” Warm, expressive, lighthearted editorial tone; tasteful historical setting; colorful cel shading; clearly readable book title; no real person likenesses, no logos, no additional text.

The Torah Portion Noah provides unique insights into the Decalogue. Unlike the Ten Commandments’ “thou shalt not murder,” the Portion Noah’s homicide prohibition statute is complete. The restricted activity, the punishment, and the rationale are all present. Given that the Portion Noah’s statute evokes God’s image within its reasoning, theological questions arise. Thus, the NoahContinue reading “Back To Basics: Noah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

The Bereshit Haftarah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

A Haftarah is part of the Torah Reading Service. The Haftarah reading- a supplemental reading from non-Torah scripture- is a passage selected because it relates to the Torah Portion that is read. One theory advanced as to why there are Haftarah readings is that they began at a time when public Torah reading was forbidden;Continue reading “The Bereshit Haftarah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

Bereshit: The Origin of Evil?

The same anime-style snake reading the Book of Genesis, with all human hands completely removed. Preserve the snake, book, pose, setting, composition, colors, and anime aesthetic. Fill the areas where the hands were with natural, coherent background and body details. No hands, arms, or human limbs visible.

Does the Torah Portion Bereshit explain evil’s origin? The creation narrative certainly offers clues. The results, for some, may be surprising. In the Beginning There Were Grades In Genesis Chapter 1, God grades his creations. Land and sea: good. Genesis 1:10. Plants and vegetation: good: Genesis 1:12. Night and day: good: Genesis 1:18. Sea animals,Continue reading “Bereshit: The Origin of Evil?”

V’zot Haberachah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

An anime-style illustration of Moses blessing the Levites. Moses is depicted as a wise, elderly man with long white hair and beard, wearing flowing robes, his hands raised in blessing. The Levites kneel or stand before him in reverence, dressed in ancient Hebrew priestly garments. The scene has dramatic anime lighting with glowing divine light emanating from Moses, detailed expressive faces, and a celestial background with clouds and golden rays. Art style similar to epic anime like Demon Slayer or Attack on Titan.

Before the Torah’s finale, Moses charged parents to educate their children. In the Torah’s final portion, V’zot Haberachah, Moses charges the Levites to educate the Israelite nation. In Moses’ blessing to the tribe, he assigns them a special assignment. Forever more, the Levites were tasked to provide covenantal education to the nation. This tasking raisesContinue reading “V’zot Haberachah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

The Big Picture

Artist painting a colorful mural with people, mountains, river, city, and Hebrew lettering

How does the Decalogue serve as a Community Code of Conduct? Abraham Joshua Heschel answered this question in his seminal work The Prophets. In addressing Hebrew Bible Prophets’ role, he explains the Community Code of Conduct’s nature. His words also bring to light a modern problem. Societal concerns have become distorted and contorted. The EndContinue reading “The Big Picture”

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”