Belief and Stealing?

This week, the Torah speaks about the Ten Commandments. The first commandment talks about belief in G-d, one of the most fundamental aspects of Judaism. The end of the commandments speaks of regular mundane societal norms, such as not to kill and not to steal. 

It’s interesting how these two very different aspects of Torah and mitzvot are included in the same two tablets! How do they go together?

The fact that all these Mitzvot are included as the primary 10 teaches us that the reason we perform all the Mitzvot is the same: because G-d commanded us to. Even if it’s a Mitzvah that we understand (such as not stealing because that just ensures that we have a proper world to live in), we still do it because that’s what Hashem wants of us. 

When we go down the street, we must always remember that we put ourselves aside. It’s not about what we understand, but rather what G-d wants. And that is the only way to do good things 

Shabbat Shalom!

Candle lighting time this week in NYC is Friday at 4:56 PM.