Clergy Blog

Shabbat Shalom,

The Ten Commandments in this week’s parasha, Yitro, is a bit of a misnomer. Don’t get me wrong, most of them are indeed commandments, but the first “commandment” is arguably not a commandment at all but rather a declaration: 

“I the Lord am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2). 

Most of the ten commandments are easily translatable into action (or inaction): Honor your parents, honor Shabbat, don’t steal, don’t murder. So the question naturally comes down: 

How does one observe the elusive first commandment? 

A rabbinic retelling in Exodus Rabbah brings an insight:

This [first commandment] is analogous to a king who enters a city. Before the king arrives, the townspeople sweep the city, sprinkle water on it, decorate it, spread fine curtains and tapestries, and kindle lamps. 

The Holy One blessed be God said: It is not so with me, but rather, when I entered My world, I spread tapestries, I kindled lamps, I sprinkled water, Idecorated everything that I made, as it is stated: “The heavens and the earth and their entire host were completed” (Genesis 2:1).

In this retelling, God is the king and the townspeople. The coronator and the coronated. So who are we in this text? We’re the ones who get to look out into the world with wonder; that’s how we observe the first commandment - by looking into the world and tuning into its beauty. Far from being bystanders in creation, we have arguably the toughest job of all! To see the world as a wonder. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, yet despite its many flaws, the world and our existence remains miraculous.    

A few quick hits:

We hope you’ll join us for Shabbat services this weekend: 6:30pm tonight and 10:00am tomorrow morning.  As we are without a b’nai mitzvah this weekend, we could use your presence to ensure we have a minyan for those saying kaddish on Saturday morning.

Purim is around the corner and we’ll be celebrating Wicked style! March 13th beginning at 5:00pm

It is a mitzvah on Purim to give gifts to friends. Purim baskets (mishloach manot) can be purchased here for the community. Your name will go on our Purim scroll and all proceeds benefit the JLP.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Max Edwards