Every year, we read the 10 commandments in parshat Va’etchanan after Tisha B’Av. The first 10 commandments—in parshat Yitro—are not read at the same time each year, and change according to the calendar.
The only fixed readings of the 10 commandments are, of course, on Shavuot, and the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. Why? The 10 commandments in Yitro are the 10 commandments of the “desert generation.” The 10 commandments in Va’etchanan are the 10 commandments of the generation coming into Eretz Yisrael.
This difference is particularly evident in the fourth commandment, Shabbat. In Yitro, the commandment talks about a beheima, a domesticated animal, in general; while in Va’etchanan, the Torah specifies an ox and a donkey. These two species are used to work the land. Unnecessary in the desert because they had divinely-provided manna, but now, they were coming into Eretz Yisrael, they needed to work!
On Shavuot, we received the Torah in the desert. On Tisha B’Av, because of the sin of the spies, it was decreed that our ancestors would not enter the land. Immediately after Tisha B’Av, we began the tikkun, the correction process (and indeed, most of the customs of the 15th of Av—when the desert generation stopped dying—are connected to Eretz Yisrael).
We’re now on a different track… Ten commandments not for manna eaters, but for people about to work and put in some hard labor. Therefore, in chapters 6–11, the Torah stresses the need to feel the hand of God in every area of life. And for a person working to put food on the table, this realization is constantly critical!
We can also add that Am Yisrael left Egypt on Pesach and received the Torah after 49 days. Moshe went up to receive the two tablets and came down on the 17th Tammuz, only to witness the golden calf. Imagine what would have happened, had there been no golden calf. On 18th Tammuz, Am Yisrael would have continued their journey straight to Eretz Yisrael for just another 11 days (see Devarim 1:2 and Rashbam’s comments). We could have already arrived at Ben-Gurion on 29th Tammuz!
Rosh Chodesh Av was meant to be a holiday celebrating our entry into Eretz Yisrael, but due to the sin of the spies on Tisha B’Av, it became a time of sadness. However, after the “desert generation” stopped dying on the 15th of Av, we were ready to come back again, to celebrate Eretz Yisrael.
Therefore, we always read the 10 commandments after Tisha B’Av. The ten commandments of the entry into the land—of ox and donkey, of divine revelation, not only on Har Sinai but in agricultural work in Eretz Yisrael—in our hard labor and even in wars—all through which the Almighty’s kingship is revealed in the world.
In our generation, the generation of “Shivat Zion,” we are blessed with another level of divine revelation. Yes, we live and build this country through our own efforts, but we, surely, see the hand of God pushing us all the time on the way to the final redemption.
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is head of Mizrachi’s Educational Advisory Board and Rabbinic Council. He serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, rosh yeshiva of the Jerusalem College of Technology and is the founder and chairman of Sulamot and La’Ofek.
