Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

The commandment against stealing is against kidnapping. This is a capital offense in Jewish law. It is especially heinous when done is God’s name. That is also taking God’s name in vain. Two capital offenses in one.

Tu B’shvat reminds us that it is our duty to build the land. The way we claim the land is to build it up and be built by it. Our enemies claim the land but can only destroy. They seem incapable of building. That is the difference.

The Fifth Commandment states that we should honor our parents. This command is for the rest of our lives. The concept of honoring our parents is the foundation of society. Without it society would fall apart.

Taking God’s name in vain does not only have to do with using God’s name inappropriately in speech but also committing acts of evil in God’s name.

God took us out of Egyptian slavery for a purpose. To show the world that it should be moral. That is why the 10 Commandments start with “I am the Lord your God Who took you out of Egypt.” I have a reason for that event.

Jethro comes to visit Moses, and gives him advise on how to delegate. This teaches us that we do not have all the wisdom in the world.

The commandment to destroy all of Amalek is unique. We are not commanded to destroy another nation. The reason could be that Amalek had no reason to attack the Jews & was against the moral compass that the Jews were about to receive.

The pillar of fire and the splitting of the sea are testament to God’s presence in this world. That God takes an active tole on our lives.

When Moses led the Jews to the lip of the Sea of Reeds, with the Egyptian army racing to them, he prayed to God for help. God replied, don’t just pray, get into the water. God wants action, not just prayers.

Only one fifth of the slaves in Egypt left. The issue is that many people are afraid of freedom because it means being responsible for your actions.