This week's parsha

Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.

The Ten Commandments: The Inside Story

Published: 15 July 2013 | Written by Naftali Silberberg

The Ten Commandments were engraved on two tablets. The five commandments etched on the first tablet deal with man's relationship with G-d; the second tablet contains five commandments which concern man's relationship with his fellow man.

Of the 613 biblical commandments, G-d selected these ten commandments for special attention. He directly communicated them to the Jews without using Moses as an intermediary, and inscribed them on the tablets which were placed in the Holy Ark within the Holy of Holies. It is evident that although all the mitzvot are vital, the five carved into the first tablet were chosen because they form the basis of our relationship with the Creator, while the latter five serve as the foundation of our relationship with fellow people. The following is an attempt to delve briefly into the deeper meaning of the Ten Commandments.

Benefit of the Doubt

Published: 09 July 2013 | Written by Mordechai Wollenberg

A lady overheard two other ladies in the local supermarket lamenting the behavior of a certain teenage girl. As the lady overheard more and more of the conversation, she became increasingly irritated by the bad behavior she was hearing about and found herself wondering what kind of parents could be so bad and irresponsible as to allow the situation she was hearing about continue. Subsequently, one of the ladies mentioned the name of the girl in question and she realized, to her horror, that they were discussing her own daughter! Of course at that point, she realized how differently she would have judged the situation. After all, when it comes to ourselves and "our own" we always see things differently!

In the opening lines of the Book of Deuteronomy, the Torah tells us that "These are the words which Moses spoke to all of Israel..." The Torah then relates how Moses (in a very subtle and non-offensive manner) reminded the Jewish people of their various failings throughout the years in the desert. The Torah specifically relates that he spoke of these failings to all of Israel. When Moses spoke to G-d, however, he related only the positive traits and virtues of the Jewish people. He argued on their behalf, no matter what they did wrong. He always sought to justify their actions, however difficult it was to do so.

Brother of Peace

Published: 01 July 2013 | Written by Rochel Holzkenner

Dysfunctional family dynamics tend to repeat themselves generation after generation -- until someone kicks the cycle. The Torah repeats the story of sibling rivalry time and again. It begins with an older brother who's jealous of a younger brother's advantage; drama ensues, and things turn ugly. Cain was rabidly envious of Abel. Ishmael boasted and taunted Isaac. Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers -- nice families torn apart by jealousy.

Aaron kicks the pandemic of sibling rivalry. His younger brother, Moses, is extraordinary from birth. Then G-d chose him to be the redeemer of the Jewish people. The Torah describes Moses' return to Egypt from Midian after G-d empowered him with the mission of redeeming the Jewish people. Aaron went out to meet him and he kissed him. Without the slightest tinge of envy, Aaron embraces his role as Moses' assistant and mouthpiece.