On the Ten Commandments

The Aseret Hadibrot actually contain 11-15 commandments, depending on how you count.

While the 10 Commandments were given with the most fanfare, they are really just a sampling of the 613 commandments G‑d communicated to Moses at Sinai.

If there are 613 commandments, why were ten commandments specifically given at Sinai?

In a strange twist, there are some significant differences between the original text in Exodus and the repeat recorded in Deuteronomy. The rabbis explained why.

A selection of commentaries on the Ten Commandments -- from the Talmud, Midrash, and the medieval through contemporary sages.

The Ten Commandments lay the foundation for our relationship with G‑d and our fellow man. Here’s how . . .

It is amazing to me how ten simple utterances could provide the basis for an entire civilization. And not only did they apply to the people then, but they do just as much for each and every one of us now...

How the First Commandment, "I Am the L-rd your G-d", and the Sixth Commandment, 'Do not kill", are one and the same

Seeing as in this week’s Parshah Moses reviews the Big Ten, why not go through the list to see how we score?

G-d spoke to the entire Jewish people on Mount Sinai, yet the Ten Commandments are exressed in the singular -- as if G-d is speaking to a single person

The Ten Commandments must be relevant enough to make a difference in our lives; otherwise, whom did G‑d say them to and whatever for?

When we look more deeply into the Ten Commandments, we will find not only spiritual advice for enhancing our marriages, but very practical and essential guidelines as well.

The community leaders infomed R. Shmelke that they had a special custom: every new rabbi was expected to add a new rule or custom to the chronicles of the community

The awesome sounds of G‑d resonated throughout the universe... but there was no echo. The greatest sound and light show in history was a strictly one-time production with no residuals or encore.

G‑d started off perfect and hasn't changed since; we're the ones who need to shape up. We're the people who should be setting off on the great journey that starts on earth and ends at Sinai. Why should we expect G‑d to come down to us?