You shall not bring up the name of the Lord, your God, for a falsehood, because the Lord will not make one innocent who will bring up His name for a falsehood. Exodus 20:7 The Torah Portion Balak has this assertion: “Because I know that whoever you’ll bless will be blessed, and whoever you’ll curseContinue reading “Balak’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Category Archives: ten commandments
June’s Micro-Postal Moment of Bliss
“All creative work is derivative” Nina Paley Thanks to the great artist Nina Paley, I consider myself a creator. After exploring through others’ work, hopefully I am able to produce a new derivative nugget. The reality is that inventive tools and past accumulated knowledge fuel creative work. Blogging solo also involves another level of creativity.Continue reading “June’s Micro-Postal Moment of Bliss”
Which Ten Commandments Should Be Placed In Schools?
Posting of the Ten Commandments is a complicated matter. The reason being is that there was many versions of the Decalogue. Thus, there is the following question. “If the Ten Commandments are to be posted in United States’ Public Schools, which version should it be?” While the journey to this inquiry is complicated, the answerContinue reading “Which Ten Commandments Should Be Placed In Schools?”
The Art of the Theme: Korah
You have so much! Because all of the congregation, all of them, are holy, and the Lord is among them. And why do you raise yourselves over the Lord’s community?” Korah speaking to Moses and Aaron Numbers 16:3 Social hierarchy is not exclusive to humans. The animal kingdom has a variety of species that areContinue reading “The Art of the Theme: Korah”
Ten Commandments’ Values
Laws signal societal values. For instance, Driving While Intoxicated Laws message many societal values. Human life and private property are to be valued; they speak to decency and disfavor with public intoxication as well. Arguably, they offer a faint endorsement for sobriety. The Decalogue promotes values as well. The Ten Commandments are endowed with aContinue reading “Ten Commandments’ Values”
The Author’s Mind: A Shavuot Thought
The Shavuot Holiday celebrates the receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot also offers a moment to reflect upon scripture’s authorship. While Biblical Scholars focus on the textual sources, an analysis of the author’s mindset brings appreciation of the book’s utility. Writing Great writing connects to the audience. How can a text over 2000Continue reading “The Author’s Mind: A Shavuot Thought”
Behar-Bechukotai: The Good Life?
Why do people advocate the Ten Commandments to solve societal woes? A passage from the Torah Portion Behar-Bechukotai explains. “And you shall do my laws and observe my judgments and do them, so you will live on the land in security.” Leviticus 25:18. It is about having a good life. Decalogue compliance arguably includes theContinue reading “Behar-Bechukotai: The Good Life?”
Emor: The Big Message?
“All Animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell In the Torah, death penalties stand out. Seemingly slight offenses, i.e. gathering wood on the Sabbath, Numbers 15:32-36, have been subject to capital punishment. In these instances which include the severe sanction, is Torah actually intending to send a biggerContinue reading “Emor: The Big Message?”
Acharei-Mot Kidushim: Of Holiness
While the Torah Portion Acharei-Mot Kidushim contains large parts of the Ten Commandments, it differs from the Ten Commandments. Leviticus 19:2 commands that “You shall be holy, because I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” In contrast, the Decalogue’s first mention of holiness pertains to the Sabbath. In making this assertion, the Tetragrammaton, the fourContinue reading “Acharei-Mot Kidushim: Of Holiness”
Ten Commandments’ Secularity Best Explained?
Great things often are set in stone. One of them is a Martin Luther King, Jr. quotation. It may best explain the Ten Commandments’ secular value. While recently in San Diego, I came upon it in a park filled with his quotations. “Morals cannot be legislated but behavior can be regulated,” he declared. This quoteContinue reading “Ten Commandments’ Secularity Best Explained?”
The Ten Commandments Project 