Ten Commandments vs Magna Carta

Martin Frack

It is self-evident that the events described which even today we regard as gospel, took place according to the moral standards of the times and have no relevance to modern circumstances.

Obviously we do not today need an instruction as to how to treat our slaves and in war our leaders would never enjoin their commanders to massacre our enemies or to “kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman known a man by lying with a man, but all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him” to keep for themselves; in short, an invitation to debauchery. (Numbers 31:17 – 20).

It’s a common notion today, to think of the Ten Commandments as a standard of virtue. What is not said of the Ten Commandments, is its insistence on absolute obedience and what the penalties were for disobedience. Actually there was only one penalty under Mosaic law: death! (Numbers 15: 30 – 31 and Numbers 15: 35 – 36).  

Three Commandments warn us to be faithful to Hashem or else, while only seven enjoin us how to conduct ourselves with regard to our parents and neighbours (such as, don’t murder, steal, mess around with your neighbours wife and property etc) and are simple matters of natural justice which even the most primitive societies do not require to be cast in stone.

As standards of conduct to be admired, I suggest The Ten Commandments do not hold a candle compared to say The Magna Carta or The American Declaration of Independence.

In short, the Torah as a standard by which we should conduct our lives, today is woefully obsolete.

Whereas Hashem has remained studiously silent for these past 3 400 years in response to our assurances of loyalty and requests for help in the face of the disasters which have befallen us for three thousand years, I suggest that it is high time that Hashem issues a second edition of the Torah in accordance with today’s standards of virtue and behaviour.

I therefore respectfully request the rabbis to do everything within their power to endeavour to ensure that this comes about.

Fairvale, Johannesburg