by Y. Y. Jacobson

A basic message contained in the two tablets given to Moses at Sinai is the fact that the Ten Commandments begin with the declaration that “I am the L-rd your G-d,’ etc., introducing the profound principle of monotheism. This is a most revolutionary idea, especially in the era of idolatry dominated by Egypt’s polytheistic culture, as detailed in the Second Commandment that prohibits all forms and kinds of idolatry.

The strong emphasis on monotheism and denial of polytheism is first and foremost; these concepts are the subject of the first two Commandments, and are also greatly elaborated upon in the many words and detail contained in it.

At the same time, the Ten Commandments conclude with such apparently simple and obvious injunctions as, “Thou shalt not Kill, Thou shalt not steal,” etc.

The profundity of monotheism which begin the Ten Commandments, and the simplicity of the ethical and moral laws with which the Ten Commandments conclude, teach us a very important lesson:

a) The true believer in G-d is not one who holds abstract ideas, but one whose knowledge of G-d leads him to apply these principles to his/her actual daily conduct even regarding ordinary and commonplace matters, in dealing with his neighbors and the respect for their property even if it be an ox or a donkey, etc.

b) The ethical and moral laws, even those that are so obvious as, “Thou shalt not steal,’ and “Thou shalt not murder,’ have actual validity and authority only when they are based on the foundation of the first and second Commandments, that is to say, based on Divine authority, the authority of the One and Only G-d.

History has continuously demonstrated that we can make no real progress if the imperatives of morality and ethics are not based on the authority of the Supreme Being, but only as human inventions that can be changed and modified to suit the proclivities of the age.

If in a previous generation some may have doubted the need of Divine authority for common morality and ethics, believing that human reason is sufficient authority for morality and ethics, our present generation has, unfortunately, in a most devastating and tragic way, refuted this mistaken notion.

For, it is precisely the nation which has excelled itself in the exact sciences, the humanities and even in philosophy and ethics, that turned out to be the most depraved nation of the world, making an ideal of murder and robbery, etc. Anyone who knows how insignificant was the minority of Germans who opposed the Hitler regime, realizes that the cult was not practiced by a few individuals, but had embraced the vast majority of that nation, which considered itself the super race, etc. Surely it is unnecessary to elaborate on this at greater length.

The Ten Commandments begin with the fundamental precepts of man's relation to G-d, and conclude with precepts governing man's relation to man. Even the most elementary ethical and moral precepts have a validity and effectiveness only if they derive from the authority of "I am G-d your G-d" and "Thou shalt have no other gods."

Jewish life allows no separation between morality and ethics on the one hand, and our belief in One G-d on the other. Unity is the very core of both our belief, and of our daily conduct, where the material and spiritual aspects of life are brought into full harmony, with the spiritual aspect being the predominating and determining factor.

There can be no difference of opinion as to the necessity to raise a child in the proper relationship towards others, with respect for parents and elders, and so forth, from his earliest age. On the same basis, it is equally imperative to bring up a Jewish child in the spirit of Torah and Mitzvoth from his earliest age.

Only this kind of upbringing and education can be called a complete and unified education, a true Torah-education. This is what King Solomon, the wisest of all men, meant when he said, "Train the child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from it when he grows old" (Proverbs 22:6)