Why Did Moshe Change the Ten Commandments? | 10@9 | 2026.07.22

One of the Torah's biggest surprises is that the Ten Commandments appear twice - and they aren't identical. Why did Moshe change them? Rabbi Ezriel Tauber suggests that the difference between "Remember the Sabbath" and "Guard the Sabbath" reveals something profound about our relationship with God. We begin as recipients of God's gifts, but we are meant to grow into partners who protect, build, and take responsibility for His world. That same journey defines Tisha B'Av. We begin by mourning the tragedies that happened to us. But Judaism refuses to let us remain there. The purpose of mourning is to transform grief into responsibility - to become active partners in rebuilding what was destroyed and bringing redemption closer. As Jalen Brunson put it: "You are allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but then you gotta go out there and do something about it." Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.