We learn in Jewish tradition that all of the commandments in the Torah are important. But if that’s the case, why do we highlight ten particular commandments so significantly? And why place them on tablets, or luchos?
The Rambam tells us that the Aseret HaDibrot are “the most important part of our religion, and its basis.” Rav Saadya Gaon adds that within the ten commandments are allusions to all the mitzvot.
Highlighting these ten commandments on tablets is not only a choice of style and semantics. It centers our faith and practice around core concepts and values. Everything we do and everything we are can boil down to these ten things – and reminding ourselves of them can help us realize when we’ve gone astray.
Just like the tablets help center and define us as Jews, having a “north star” guide our decision-making can be extremely valuable in all areas of life. Whether it’s a nonprofit mission statement, family guidelines, or a personal value system, highlighting front and center what truly matters is a game-changer for everything else. Because it’s only once we know where we’re going that we can make a plan to get there.
