Happy Birthday 10 Commandments
On Sunday and Monday, June 3rd and 4th, Jewish people the world over will be celebrating the time honored holiday called Shavuoth-weeks. This holiday is so called because it takes place seven weeks after the Passover holiday, which marked the Jewish exodus from Egypt. The highlight of this holiday is the gathering of many families at places of worship. They are told the story of G‑d giving the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, to the Jewish people. It is read in Hebrew from a hand-written scroll.
The Shavuoth holiday is the birthday of the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish tradition it was 3307 years ago that the Jewish nation received the Torah. This Torah is now called the Hebrew Bible and is considered by all religions as the most influential book in human history.
Whether one believes that the special covenant between G‑d and the Hebrews was passed on to the church, New Hebrews, or to the Islam religion who believe that Mohammed and his followers became G-D's new messengers, the Hebrew Bible stills stands supreme and respected by all religions.
Have you ever heard of the kingdom of the Khuzaria? If you haven't, then have no fear. You are part of the 99.9 percent that hasn't. The country of the Khuzaria was located between old Turkey and Russia. In the year 800 this recorded story took place.
Buland, the king of the Khuzaria was a very spiritual person. However his country was a mix of many religions and pagans. One night the king had a dream and he was told by an angel, "Thy way of thinking is pleasing to G‑d, but not thy way of acting."
The dream caused the king to study many religions. After concluding there were three main religions he invited representatives of each religion to his place. To each he told the following. "You must pick a different religion than you now practice." This was made under the threat of death.
The Christian said the Jewish religion is for me; their Bible is pure. The Moslem said I do not believe in the Christian religion as a way of life for me. I do, however, believe in the Hebrew Bible and it is the mother of religions. The Jew answered that I am ready for death as neither religion is mine. It's the Hebrew Bible that I want.
The king saw that the Hebrew bible was something special. They all agreed on converting to the Jewish religion. Subsequently his entire people embraced the Jewish religion. The kingdom lasted two or three hundred years. Rabbi Judah Halevi wrote a book in the 12th century describing the entire episode, and it is called The Book of the Khuzarai. From this story we see how great the Hebrew Bible is considered.
Our great country has always considered the teaching of the Hebrew Bible as the most influential book of all times.
In our country's infancy we find many people using the Hebrew Bible as the book to establish our foundations. Puritans were the great espouses of the bible. Mosaic law was adopted in the Connecticut code. As early as 1650 the colony of New Haven used the Hebrew Bible for its code. By reviewing the writings in 1658 you will find the leading men of the colonies studied and knew Hebrew well.
Our great liberty bell carries the quote from the bible, "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all inhabitants thereof." Some knew a lot more about being Jewish in those days than our present day Jewish population.
Recently a mammoth mausoleum was uncovered in Egypt. It's believed that there are over 62 chambers. The period given for the mass Tombs is the same time the Hebrews were in Egypt. The king was called Ramesses al-Akbar- Ramesses the greatest. He is the same king whom Moses spoke to, as recorded in the bible. It is fascinating that one of the tombs is said to hold the first born son of King Pharaoh. The archaeologists place the tomb and death of the first born at 1212 B.C.E. This is the same date the Jewish people give for their Exodus. All the dates are the same in the Hebrew Bible.
This new and exciting discovery brings us to the second event that happened seven weeks after the exodus, called Shavuoth, Weeks or Pentecost 50, marking the 50 days after the Hebrews left Egypt. This holiday is one of the three main holidays practiced by Jews.
Remember, there is no monopoly on the Ten Commandments. Americans observe and cherish the Hebrew Bible and it's Ten Commandments. We recognize that the Ten Commandments are the most wonderful laws given to all of us by G‑d.
Our founding Fathers wanted religion to be part of our great Republic. Keep this distinction in mind. It's freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
It would be only right that we all celebrate the birthday, holiday of Shavuoth, honoring The Ten Commandments, G‑d's present to the world.