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If you were G-d and you wanted to reveal yourself to your nation for the first time, in the unique setting of Mount Sinai with fire and thunderstorms, what would you tell them?
The Jews prepared themselves and awaited the giving of the Torah in Mount Sinai and finally, what did they hear? “ You shall not murder, You shall not steal …”. Is that what they had to wait for? Who doesn’t know that murder and theft are forbidden?
If we look a little bit at the setup of the two Tablets with the Ten Commandments, we will discover something interesting.
The first – right tablet (in Hebrew we read starting from the right side) talks about commandments regarding our relationship with G-d. The second – left tablet talks about commandments regarding our relationship with other people.
We all know that stealing is forbidden. But there will always be one person who really, perhaps deserves we should steal from him. There will always be an action which we can claim is not considered as stealing. We will always find excuses to making shortcuts and cutting corners when we want to.
But if we remember that stealing is forbidden, not only because this is what we think so, but because “I am the L‑rd your G‑d”, then the “You shall not steal” becomes absolute and non-negotiable. The same applies also for the rest of the Commandments regarding our relationship with other people.
Notice also that the right tablet starts with spiritual commandments like belief (I am the L‑rd your G‑d…) and ends with practical commandments such as keeping the Shabbat. On the contrary, the left tablet starts with practical commandments (You shall not murder) and ends with spiritual (You shall not covet... anything that is your neighbor's).
In topics between us and G-d, some people believe that action doesn’t matter. The most important is the faith in the heart. But G-d tells them that faith must be expressed also practically. Faith in the heart is not enough.
In topics between us and other people, people believe that action is the most important. G-d tells them that indeed action is very important, but the thoughts and feelings should match it too.
Let’s think of one of the Commandments that we could do better this week. Surely, because of all of our good deeds G-d will bring us Mashiach now!
Shabbat Shalom!
Hanna
