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the aseret Rabbi David Milston
hadibrot T WO
ָ
ך ְ ל הֶי ְ הִי אלֹ

Connecting Heaven and Earth

ou shall have no other gods make this covenant and this oath; but for “Real Judaism.” This does not
before Me, you shall not with him that stands here with us this mean detaching kodesh from chol,
“Ymake for yourself a graven day before the L-rd our G-d, and also it actually requires bringing kodesh
image, nor any manner of likeness, with him that is not here with us this into chol. We need to be part of this
of anything that is in heaven above, day” (Devarim 29:13-14). world, but we need to do so through
or that is in the Earth beneath, or the ways of the Torah. In an ideal sce-
that is in the water under the earth. “But what enters your mind shall not nario there is no kodesh and chol; one
You shall not bow down to them, nor come about, what you say, ‘Let us be who is driven by their belief in G-d
serve them…” like the nations, like the families of will perform everything in a Jewish
the lands, to serve wood and stone.’ way, mitzvot and mundane matters
As we know, the very first dibur of As I live, says the L-rd G-d, surely alike.
the Aseret HaDibrot declares that “I with a strong hand and with an out-
am the L-rd your G-d.” Having estab- stretched arm and with poured out With this in mind, let us return to
lished that, it seems superfluous to fury, will I reign over you And I shall our initial question. The first Com-
elaborate. If we truly believe in G-d, take you out of the peoples, and I shall mandment declares that the L-rd G-d
why would we contemplate other gather you from the lands in which brought us out of Egypt. The second
gods? you were scattered, with a strong Commandment is there to elaborate
hand and with an outstretched arm – to explain how we must transform
Towards the end of Sefer Yehoshua, that belief into reality through true
the retiring leader seems to be giving and with poured out fury” (Yechezkel commitment. There can be no other
the nation a choice. Extraordinarily, 20:32-34). gods, for nothing can take precedence
Yehoshua appears to be offering them Both the above are unequivo- over our religious beliefs. If we are to
a ‘way out’ of their covenant with G-d: cal in stressing the eternal cove- live our Judaism to the full, we will
“And now fear the L-rd, and serve nant between Am Yisrael and the need to internalize that we cannot
Him in sincerity and in truth; and Almighty. So how are we to under- live in two worlds simultaneously.
remove the gods which your fathers stand the words of Yehoshua to the
served on the other side of the river masses? This message is underlined somewhat
and in Egypt, and serve the L-rd. And by the words that follow, beautifully
if it displeases you to serve the L-rd, Both Malbim and Alshich suggest explained by my rabbi and mentor,
choose this day whom you will serve, that indeed Yehoshua was not offering Rabbi Yitzchak Bernstein z”l: ר ׁ ֶ ש ֲ א
whether the gods that your fathers the nation a ‘way out.’ Our covenant ל ַ ע ַּ מ ִ מ םִי ַ מ ׁ ָּ ש ַּ ב – in Heaven above – in
served on the other side of the river, with the Almighty is unquestionably matters of Heaven, aspire, dream,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose eternal. never be content. ת ַ ח ַָּ ת ִ מ ץ ֶ ר ָ א ָּ ב ר ׁ ֶ ש ֲ א – in
land you dwell, but as for me and my the Earth beneath, in matters of this
household, we shall serve the L-rd.” What disturbed Yehoshua was the world, be content with what you have,
(Yehoshua 24:14-15) popular notion that one can live in do what you need to do, in order to to
two worlds simultaneously. He pleads reach the Heaven above.
Yehoshua himself clearly states what for truth and sincerity while implying
he intends to do, but the people must that the people at the time, despite This is our mandate to live Jewish life
apparently decide for themselves. publicly declaring allegiance to G-d, to the full.
still worshipped idols privately.
Yehoshua’s words are particularly
challenging in light of verses to the In his final words to the nation, Rabbi David Milston is Director of
contrary: “Neither with you only do I Yehoshua is emphasizing the need Overseas Programs at Midreshet HaRova

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