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the aseret Rabbi Judah Dardik
hadibrot NINE

הֶנ ֲ ע ַ ת אלֹ

The Crucial Lesson

t a highlight moment in the – and what we know of the actions and are required to do so as discern-
Chag of Shavuot, we stand of – the ‘other’ (whether that other is ing people. One cannot responsibly
Afor the reading of the Aseret G-d or a human being). Seen in this walk through life believing that all
HaDibrot, recalling the experience of light, הֶנ ֲ ע ַ ת אלֹ is more than a juridi- behavior (and all people in the ways
hearing the commandments directly cal mitzvah. It applies beyond court- in which they conduct themselves)
from G-d at Mt. Sinai on the first room proceedings and directly to our are equally good. And yet at the
Shavuot in history. One of the unique perceptions and evaluations of the same time, it is all too easy to come
features of the 9th commandment, actions of those around us. to conclusions about others based on
ָ
ר ֶ ק ׁ ָ ש ד ֵ ע ך ֲ ע ֵ ר ְ ב הֶנ ֲ ע ַ ת אלֹ – you shall not insufficient and inaccurate evidence.
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bear false witness against your fellow, The Talmud Yerushalmi notes a We may overhear a snippet of conver-
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is that among all the dibrot it is the subtle change in wording between sation, witness actions out of context
only one that doesn’t seem to apply to the manner in which this command- and without a full picture of the life of
most people, nor at most times. Each ment is phrased in Shemot and how the other, or accept a rumor. And just
person deals independently with their it appears when the 10 command- like that, we come to form an opinion
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faith in G-d and the oneness of G-d, ments are listed in Sefer Devarim. In of them and their character. We so
and their relationship to G-d’s name. Shemot, the commandment specifies easily accept the ‘testimony’ of such
The same goes for the observance of a prohibition against false (“sheker”) false witnesses.
Shabbat, the respect shown to par- testimony. In Devarim, the Torah
ents, avoiding murder, adultery, theft instructs us not to offer testimony in The Yerushalmi equated testimony in
and coveting that which belongs to vain (“shav”). Those two terms are vain with that which is false. Judging
others. But this particular command- not quite synonymous; the former others when we don’t need to form
ment seems only applicable in the involves attesting to something an opinion can be just as destructive
context of a court, and only for one untrue. The latter seems to include as an outright lie. But our world is
who comes to offer testimony. Does the unnecessary as well. Well aware now learning an important lesson, as
it have a greater meaning for our day- of the difference, the Yerushalmi social distancing has limited our abil-
to-day lives? states that these two terms were ity to interact with others. In its way,
spoken concurrently at Sinai (“bedib-
A relevant insight may be gained bur echad ne’emru”). They are meant Covid-19 is opening our eyes to real-
from a linkage made by the Meiri in to go hand in hand, despite their ize that we never really knew quite
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his analysis of the Aseret HaDibrot. seeming alternate foci. What is the what was happening in someone else’s
Noting that the commandments did message the Gemara is sharing with world from the outside. Perhaps we
not simply appear in list form but us? would do best to learn the lesson of
were rather broken up into sets of the penultimate commandment, and
five over two tablets, he suggests they By linking the notions advanced cease forming unnecessary opinions
are meant to parallel one another. by the Meiri and the Talmud at all.
The first commandment matches the Yerushalmi, I believe one can garner
sixth in theme, the second matches a more global view of the mitzvah of
the seventh, and so on. Thus, Shab- הֶנ ֲ ע ַ ת אלֹ. Of course, one must speak 1 Shemot, 20:13.
bat and הֶנ ֲ ע ַ ת אלֹ are paired with one honestly in court. The entire judicial 2 Beit HaBechira, Introduction to the
another. system depends upon the ability to Talmud Bavli.
gather truthfully stated evidence and 3 Talmud Yerushalmi, Masechet Nedarim
How so? Observance of Shabbat is a evaluate its relevance and implica- 3:2.
personal testimony of the belief that tions. And that is the direct meaning 4 Devarim 5:17.
G-d created the universe. Thus both of this commandment. But judgment
commandments require truth in is not limited to the courts of justice. Rabbi Judah Dardik is Assistant Dean and
characterizing our relationship with We engage in judgment all the time a teacher at Yeshivat Orayta

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