The Ten Commandments

• The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged every Jewish man and woman to be present for the reading of the Ten Commandments. Parents should bring their children. Even babies (above the age of 30 days) should be brought (health permitting). The boys (not babies) should be in the men’s sections while the girls should be in the women’s section.
• This is based on the Midrash that says that nowadays when we read the Ten Commandments on Shavuot, it is as if we are receiving the Ten Commandments again directly from G-d.
• It is customary in many communities (including Chabad) to stand during the reading of the Ten Commandments while facing the Sefer Torah. The Sefardic custom is to remain seated.

The Commentaries discuss why the Ten Commandments were said in the singular form, “You (singular) shalt not: etc.” Rav Dovid Dietch explained that the reason is to teach us that one should not say “What does G-d care if I do not serve Him? He has so many angels and tzadikkim who serve Him. Why is my service important?” G-d therefore said to each person, “I am the L-rd, your G-d (in the singular)” as if to say, “You should imagine that you are My only subject, and there is no one to serve Me but you.”