The Ten Commandments

In ancient times, the recitation of the Ten Commandments was a routine component of the daily morning service, along with the akeida, korbanot, and many of the other preliminary morning readings with which we are familiar with today.[1] The Ten Commandments, however, were later removed from the daily liturgy. This was due to heretical groups who were claiming that it is only the Ten Commandments which are truly essential to observe, while the rest of the Torah is of lesser importance.[2]

In response to these ridiculous claims, the rabbis made a number of changes which continue to this day. For example, the Ten Commandments are never recited in public nor are they included as a formal component of the prayer services. The only exception, of course, is when they are read as part of the Torah reading. Individuals, however, are encouraged to read the Ten Commandments on their own from time to time.[3] It is taught that all of the Ten Commandments are alluded to in the shema prayer.[4]

The ban on not reciting the Ten Commandments in public was expanded to include printed media, as well. For example, the Ten Commandments should not be presented independently or exclusively in printed materials which are intended for widespread distribution. This too, was decreed for fear that the Ten Commandments would be treated more reverently than the rest of the Torah. In fact, the custom was extended to include even graphics, sculptures, or artworks which represent the Ten Commandments, and even if the actual commandments do not appear in full.[5]

Nevertheless, one will notice that in many synagogues the Ten Commandments are often the primary design of the parochet, the curtain which covers the aron kodesh. So too, an image of the Ten Commandments frequently appears on the exterior of synagogues with the intention that it quickly serve to identify the building as a Jewish place of worship. This seems to contradict the prohibition against allowing the Ten Commandments to appear more prominently than any other section of the Torah!

There are a number of explanations which are offered to justify this apparent contradiction. For example, it is explained that the practice of decorating the aron kodesh with an image of the Ten Commandments is truly intended to symbolize that just as the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai, the rest of the Torah was given at Sinai, as well.[6] Other authorities suggest that since today there are no longer any heretical groups within Judaism claiming that it is only the Ten Commandments which are important, the prohibition no longer applies.[7] According to this approach, it is permissible to use the image of the Ten Commandments in any manner, especially with regards to synagogue architecture.

Furthermore, there are authorities who argue that the ban on displaying the Ten Commandments only applies when they are displayed in their true, original form. According to these authorities, it is permitted to display the Ten Commandments in an abstract, abridged, or symbolic manner as is commonly done today.[8] It might just be that the widespread practice of presenting the tablets of the Ten Commandments with rounded tops is in order to comply with this view. Another common method for presenting the Ten Commandments in an abstract manner is by using a single letter of the Hebrew alphabet to represent each of the Ten Commandments. The original tablets of the Ten Commandments were actually two large cubes with flat tops and, of course, each of the Ten Commandments were written out in their entirety.

[1] Tamid 32b, O.C. 1:5

[2] Berachot 12a

[3] Rema;O.C. 1:5, Aruch Hashulchan 1:22-29

[4] Yerushalmi Berachot 1:5

[5] See Minhag Yisrael Torah O.C. 1:4

[6] Shraga Hameir 5:117, Maasef Lekol Hamachanot, cited in Minhag Yisrael Torah O.C. 1:4

[7] Aseh Lecha Rav 4:44

[8] Shraga Hameir 5:117, Aseh Lecha Rav 4:44