Temple Torah

Rabbi

From Rabbi Nathan Rose (acting Rabbi)

The Ten Commandments of the Torah are the cornerstones of Jewish religious civilization. We read this month on Shabbat morning January 22.

Let me suggest an additional list ten distinct values as the fundaments of our lives as Jews today. These ten value principles are at the core of a Conservative Jewry. These ten principles are:

  1. God—as in the first commandment, we cannot understand and appreciate Judaism and Jewish life without dealing with the understanding of and beliefs about God.
  2. Prayer—the ability to pray, to know, and understand the religious service is a skill so difficult for so many, but so essential to the making of an educated Jew.
  3. Torah—an educated Jew knows in some detail the book which formed the basis of all western religions.
  4. Shabbat — the observance of the Sabbath has strengthened the Jews‘ spiritual life for 3000 years. Each week Shabbat revitalizes our spiritual existence.
  5. Kashrut — no Jewish practice has been more controversial but has done more to solidify and deepen Jewish identity through the years.
  6. The Hebrew Language — a Judaism devoid of the Hebrew language would be deprived of a rich vocabulary and idiom. One of the distinguishing marks of Conservative Judaism in America (as opposed to Reform) has been the keeping of much of the worship service in the original Hebrew.
  7. Israel — in today‘s world, learning about, supporting, visiting, or living in Israel is an integral part of the Jewish life of every caring Jew.
  8. The Jewish Life Cycle — a Jew lives a life cycle encompassing certain unique customs and values. Birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Marriage and Death, all have their rituals and systems of observance.
  9. The Jewish People — a Jew cares passionately about other Jews wherever they may be, and in whatever circumstance they live.
  10. Menchlichkeit — a Jew must live as a —mensch.? To be a seriously committed Jew and not to live ethically is a contradiction in terms.

These, in abbreviated form, are the ten —commandments? around which we must strive to live as Jews. They are values minimally to learn about and hopefully to live by in these modern times. We have programs at Temple Torah that address these suggestions. Take part in our educational programs, come to our Shabbat and holiday services, come to our holiday programs and know these —10 Commandments? as well!