Often I have heard people say that in order to live a good and proper life, all one has to do is to follow the 10 Commandments. Now, leaving aside the question of how many of the 10 are actually commandments, I can’t help but feel that this is an exceptionally LOW standard to hold ourselves to. Hey, I am writing this at about 10:30AM, and I have not murdered, committed adultery, borne false witness, stolen — I haven’t said anything about my parents, and it isn’t Shabbat, so that doesn’t count — and I am not sure that I know exactly what “covet” is. WOW!!! Seven of 10 !! And I have not even had lunch. I’m off to a great start. Yeah, right!
So, as we approach Shavuot, the time when we celebrate our acceptance of the Torah, when we read the Aseret Hadibrot (10 Commandments), I would like to suggest that we perhaps should add another 10 Commandments to our definition of good and proper. I am sure that I’m not the first to think of this, and maybe you have your own list.
The Next Ten
- You shall think well not only of yourself, but also of your neighbors.
- You shall add to the health, wealth, and happiness of the world.
- You shall be on good terms with sunshine, fresh air and water.
- You shall get eight hours of sleep a day, but not during Services or Torah Study.
- You shall eat sensibly and exercise moderately most of the time.
- You shall honor the memory of your parents and be true to the friends who have done so much for you.
- You shall recognize the Divine in all creatures.
- You shall remember the weekdays to keep them holy.
- You shall remember that you can only help yourself by helping others and injuring another injures yourself.
- You shall love the stars, the ocean, the forest, and revere all living things, recognizing that the source of life is One.
It may be a place to start.
B’Shalom and Chag Sameach
Rabbi Stanley Halpern