This week’s Torah portion Yitro (Ex. 18:1 – 20:23) contains, among other things, what we commonly call the Ten Commandments. Did you know there is widespread disagreement about what is the first and what is the second commandment? The last five are “easy”, three of them are only two words in Hebrew, so no room for confusion, right? Well, not exactly, as it turns out, given that our Hebrew text was translated into Greek, then Latin, than many other languages including English. Let’s quickly review the last five:
6 You shall not murder
7 You shall not commit adultery
8 You shall not steal
9 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
10 You shall not covet (secretly wanting) your neighbor’s house, wife, slaves, animals or anything that is your neighbor’s
The sixth commandment is often mistranslated as “you shall not kill”. This is a distinction with a really big difference! The Hebrew is clear – murder is prohibited but one can kill in self defense or even to avenge a murder in the Bible.
We are witness this week to a horrible natural disaster in countries far away from us – Turkey and Syria have been home to Jews for millenia but much more recently Israel’s political enemies.
What does our Jewish sense of morality tell us to do when faced with the suffering of others? I believe it tells us to help those who suffer first, and ask questions about their politics later. I am not so naïve as to believe that the government of Syria will welcome, or even acknowledge, the emergency medical relief already provided to its citizens by Israel. The optics aren’t good for Assad, but I know that emergency services workers are sent all over the world from Israel when disaster strikes.
I ask everyone to think about what the right thing is to do this Shabbat – will we stand idly by? Will we give aid even in support of our enemies.
Shabbat Shalm Rabbi Leah Benamy
