The Beginning
History begins with Adam, the first man, who was created by Hashem on the sixth day of Creation. The creation of man was the culmination of the six days of Creation. But unlike animals and plants, which came into existence all over the world at once (
Chullin 60a), man was created singular and alone, so that each person should say, “Because of me, Hashem created the entire universe” (
Sanhedrin 37a).
Adam was created in the fifth hour of the first Friday. His wife, Chavah, was created in the seventh hour of the day, and in the eighth hour Chavah gave birth to Kayin and his twin sister (Sanhedrin 38b).
Adam lived 930 years. Thus, he was able to see the nine generations that followed him, including Lemech, who was Noach’s father.
One-minute history lesson: The Mishnah teaches, “The world was created with ten sayings...” (Avos 5:1). Why did Hashem create the world with ten statements when He could have easily done it with just one?
The reason is explained in the Mishnah. The ten statements used in the creation of the world signify the importance of the universe. The wicked are more accountable for destroying Hashem’s world and the righteous are more worthy of abundant rewards. This obligates us to be responsible for our words and deeds during our lifetimes in this world.
One Person Makes the Difference
Moshe Rabbeinu (our leader and teacher) was born in 2368. He led the Jewish nation out of Egypt in the year 2448, when he was eighty years old.
In that same year, the Jewish people received the Torah through Moshe Rabbeinu at Sinai. The Torah teaches that Moshe Rabbeinu was both the greatest prophet in history (Devarim 34:10) and the most humble person in history (Bemidbar 12:3).
Moshe was the one to confront Pharaoh and deliver the warnings of the Ten Plagues. At Hashem’s command, he miraculously split the Yam Suf (the Reed Sea) on the seventh day after the Exodus. The miracle food, mann, fell in his merit the entire forty years that Moshe led the Jewish people in the desert.
Moshe went up Mount Sinai to accept the Torah on our behalf, on Shabbos, the sixth day of Sivan, in the year 2448.
Moshe taught us the entire Torah and led the nation for forty years in the desert until he passed away at the age of 120, in the year 2488. The Revelation at Sinai was the most dramatic scene in the annals of world history. All Jews witnessed Hashem’s presence on the mountaintop and heard Him teaching us the Ten Commandments. These ten laws encompass the entire Torah. Briefly, they are:
1. Hashem, our God, is the Creator and Controller of all.
2. There is no other god besides Him.
3. One must always respect Hashem’s name.
4. One must observe the Shabbos.
5. One must honor his parents.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not bear false witness.
10. Do not covet that which belongs to others.
One-minute history lesson: The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 5:2) teaches that we can all be as righteous as Moshe Rabbeinu. We all have great potential, and we all have the responsibility to develop ourselves to the fullest extent possible. Although we cannot match Moshe Rabbeinu’s prophetic greatness, nor his humility, we are considered as righteous as he was when we achieve our potential.
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