Uniquely Jewish (Ve’etchanan 08/17/24)

Uniquely Jewish

Since this is the time of year when families go on vacations, the summer Torah readings tend to get less attention. V’etchanan is such an example. It’s the second chapter in Moses’ farewell address, and this parsha is chock full of famous teachings and statements.

Famous Teaching #1: The Ten Commandments

1. I יהוה am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:
2. You shall have no other gods besides Me.
3. You shall not swear falsely by the name of your God יהוה.
4. Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as your God יהוה has commanded you.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Likewise, none of you shall crave your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

Famous Teaching #2: The Shema

Hear, O Israel! יהוה is our God, יהוה is One. You shall love your God יהוה with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Teach them to your children. Recite them when you’re at home, when you are away when you go to sleep, and when you rise in the morning. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and your gates.

Both of these essential teachings used to be part of daily prayers. In Temple times and the early parts of the first millennium, these two sections of the Torah were part of the morning service. Supposedly, the Ten Commandments were removed from our prayers because it led to arguments from “heretics” who claimed that only the Ten Commandments came from Sinai. The rabbis wanted to silence these claims, so they removed the Ten Commandments from daily recital.

However, having just read both paragraphs from the Torah this Shabbat morning, another reason came to my mind: the Shema feels more Jewish.

Christians, Muslims, and other religions have adopted the Ten Commandments worldwide because of their universal ideas. They’re fundamental guidelines for a moral and productive society. Even the mitzvah of Shabbat, which was radical in its time (What you want a whole day off?!), has become commonplace across the globe. The first of the Ten Commandments is just a statement of fact: God exists, and this God is involved in the world—a concept embraced by all monotheistic religions.

The Shema, on the other hand, feels more uniquely Jewish. Know that God is one, and we have a special relationship with this Being. This Entity desires our love. We need to embrace the Torah’s teachings and ensure we pass them on to our children. We’re given the mitzvah of Tefillin, which binds these teachings on our arms and heads. Lastly, we’re told to sanctify our homes with these ideals by attaching a Mezuzah to our door.

I believe that as time went on and Christianity and Islam developed, the rabbis wanted to differentiate Judaism from the competing religions. As life in the diaspora continued, we needed to emphasize teachings that signify our uniqueness and perpetuate our people. The recital of the Ten Commandments makes the holidays special, while the Shema has become the backbone of our people.

If preserving our uniqueness is such a value, we could ask ourselves, what do we do that marks our Jewishness? What stands out in our homes or daily routine that signifies, “I am a proud Jew”?

We’re three decades into the 21st century, and the world continues to place a double standard on Israel and the Jewish people. This signifies that we continue to be relevant and unique. So, again, how are we playing our role? What defines our Jewishness?

Wishing you a thoughtful week,

R’ Neil