At Sinai Temple in Los Angeles recently, Elie Alyeshmerni, Ritual Vice President, gave a D'var Torah on "this ancient, revolutionary religion," recounting the revolutionary changes in an ancient time that became part and parcel of the modern world. The following is an edited excerpt of his listing:
- Sanctity of time. Places were holy, but no other culture of that period considered time — Shabbat.
- The concept of the Sabbath as a day of rest. … There is nothing in nature that points to a week. We can identify easily days, months, seasons, and years, but not the week.
- Sanctity of Life. Unlike extant cultures we were bidden not to sacrifice humans. The binding of Isaac is not an exception, but the proof of this.
- Dignity for all humans. In a society where slavery was common, we were bidden to release slaves after six years of work. Six year maximum is revolutionary when you consider even our founding fathers had slaves.
- Unity of God. Pantheons and idols were common. ….
- Partnership of God and man. We are Yisrael. One who struggles with God. Jacob fought the angel. Abraham negotiated with God to save Sodom. Moses dialogued with God not to destroy the Jewish people.
- Equal and fair Treatment. In the code of Hammurabi, you were treated differently if you stole the sheep of a neighbor or that of the king. You would die for the second. In Judaism the judges are bidden not to favor the poor for being poor nor favor the rich for being rich.
- Measure for measure. The punishment suits the crime. Do not cut off a hand that stole a loaf of bread. …
- Leaders can be flawed and the flawed can be leaders. Many of our leaders were flawed. The greatest leader Moses, the stutterer, was not deemed worthy to reach the Promised land. King David was not allowed to build the Temple.
- You serve God when you serve people. Following the momentous revelation of the ten commandments, the first laws were not about how one should worship God, but how to treat other human beings. That is the way to serve God.
Yasher koach, Elie,