A careful look, or even superficial glance, at the Aseres HaDibros, the Ten Commandments recorded in this week’s Parsha, will show numerous differences between this presentation and that in Parshas Yisro.
If the words in Yisro were Hashem’s direct commands to us, how can there be any change in them? Why are the words not the same, word for word?
There are many approaches, including the fascinating insight that the first luchos contained the Yisro version, while the second, unbroken tablets, contained the Vaeschanan version.
The Klei Yakar posits that the Yisro version was the one shopped around to the nations of the world who rejected it, and the second version was tailored to the Jewish People, for example, only they had been redeemed from slavery.
Others explain that Moshe was trying to convey Hashem’s will to the people in words they would understand, and also that he was now speaking to a different generation, with a different approach to Hashem.
It would seem that the revelation of Sinai, though shared by millions, had a different impact on each person there. Each had his or her own understanding and insight into how to implement the mitzvos of Hashem into his own life.
Though we all have the same responsibilities, our approaches to them and Hashem will be as different as our faces are from each other. We should embrace our individuality while committing to be part of the whole.
Thought of the week:
If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?
- R’ Nachman of Breslov z”l
