Yaakov Raskin | How the Ten Commandments have relevance this year

FEW FIGURES loom larger in the Hebrew Bible than Moses. A valiant redeemer and lawgiver, he led the Israelites from slavery to freedom and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. In popular depictions, Moses stands with arms raised, surrounded by smoke, fire and thunder. Then, in a climactic moment, two stone tablets descend from the heavens as G-d’s booming voice proclaims the immortal words:

1. I am the Lord Your God

2. You Shall Have No Other Gods Beside Me

3. You Shall Not Take the Lord’s Name in Vain

4. You Shall Remember the Sabbath and Keep It Holy

5. Honour Your Mother and Your Father

6. You Shall Not Kill

7. You Shall Not Commit Adultery

8. You Shall Not Steal

9. You Shall Not Bear False Witness

10. You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbour’s House, Wife, or Possessions

These 10 utterances form the moral foundation upon which all human civilisation rests. According to Jewish tradition, the first five commandments describe humanity’s relationship with our divine Creator, while the last five outline how we should treat our fellow human beings.

THE SYNAGOGUE AS MODERN SINAI

This Sunday and Monday (June 1-2) Jews around the world will celebrate the festival of Shavuot, a holiday which commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The word ‘Shavuot’ means ‘weeks’ in Hebrew, marking seven weeks after Passover. These holidays are intrinsically connected – on Passover, the Israelites were freed from enslavement; on Shavuot, became a nation serving G-d by receiving the Torah.

Every year on Shavuot, Jewish families gather in synagogue to hear the Ten Commandments read aloud. Through this ritual, we renew our acceptance of the Torah and its statutes. This moment transforms our synagogue from an ordinary house of worship into a modern Sinai, a holy space where the same spiritual energy that descended thousands of years ago returns to the world again.

This Sunday and Monday, Chabad of Jamaica is holding Shavuot holiday celebrations, where you can hear the Commandments read aloud in a beautiful ceremony. In that sacred space, we experience the giving of the Torah just as our ancestors did thousands of years ago. While there is no fire, smoke or thunder, the experience is raw, meaningful, and powerful.

Since I was a baby, my mother brought me to synagogue to hear the Ten Commandments. Year after year, she never missed it. As a child, I might not have understood all the words, but I understood that it mattered. Now, as a father, I do the same for my children – bringing them into this ancient moment, so they too can feel the weight and wonder of our covenant with G-d.

AN UNBROKEN CHAIN FROM SINAI

A common thread throughout my writings has been the importance of moral and ethical education. In an age of moral relativism and social fragmentation, the absolute clarity of “You shall not kill”, “Honour your father and mother”, and “You shall not steal” provides desperately needed moral anchoring. The Torah’s perspective is that education must provide young people with a moral compass – teaching the fundamental rules for living that ensure good character, moral clarity, and purpose.

Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Take to heart these instructions which I command you this day. You shall teach them diligently to your children.” Every parent who brings their child to synagogue continues an ancient legacy – an unbroken chain linking us directly to Sinai.

UNIVERSAL MEDICINE FOR MODERN AILMENTS

The Torah was not given in hiding, nor to a lone prophet. Rather, it was revealed to an entire people in broad daylight – men, women, and children alike – as a universal truth for all generations. As such, its wisdom cannot be changed or modified to fit the trends of the time. The power and spirit of Torah are described in the Tanya, chapter 5, where it says: “When we learn Torah, our soul unites with G-d Himself in a way that nothing else can achieve – becoming one with the Divine will and wisdom.”

There’s a story told of a man who once wandered into a wedding, unfamiliar with the guests. Curious, he asked, “Which one is the groom?” Someone pointed and said, “The one who takes the bride home.” Shavuot is compared to a wedding – between G-d and the Jewish people. The Torah is our spiritual bride. The Ten Commandments are our vows. But the real question is: Who is the groom?

The answer? The one who takes the Torah home. The celebration, meaning and purpose are only real when we bring them into our lives. When we live with it day in and day out. When we learn it, teach it, and let it guide our choices – that’s when we become the groom.

This Shavuot, you’re not celebrating someone else’s wedding. It’s your wedding – with G-d. It’s your moment. Your inheritance. This year, make a resolution – not just to learn or hear the Ten Commandments, but to live by them.

As Bob Marley sings, “Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” Let’s open our eyes. This year, don’t just witness the wedding. Take the Torah home.