Thursday, Shevat 20, 5777 / February 16, 2017

The story of the Giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments is found twice in the Torah. The first time is in this week’s Parsha, Yitro, and the second time in the fifth Book of the Torah – in Deuteronomy.

The Tablets with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them were indeed given twice to the Jewish  people. The first Tablets were broken when Moshe, upon coming down Mount Sinai, saw the people worshiping the Golden Calf they made.

The second Tablets G-d gave Moshe after he went up Mount Sinai again to pray for his people. When G-d forgave the people for their sin of the Golden Calf, He gave Moshe the second set of Tablets.

Q.How many days was Moshe on Mount Sinai before coming down with the Tablets?

A.Moshe was on Mountain Sinai forty days before receiving the first Tablets. Then he went up for another eighty days (forty plus forty days) after which he received the second Tablets.

Q.Which Jewish holiday is associated with the giving of the first Tablets and which with the second Tablets?

A.The holiday of Shavuot is associated with the first Tablets. On that day G-d descended on Mount Sinai and announced the Ten Commandments. They were then inscribed by G-d on the two Tablets and carried down by Moshe forty days later.

After breaking the Tablets and praying for forgiveness for his people, G-d gave Moshe the second Tablets. They were given to Moshe and brought down Mount Sinai on Yom Kippur.

Thus, Shavuot celebrates the first Tablets and Yom Kippur the second Tablets.

Q.Where were the first and second Tablets stored?

A.  Both sets of Tablets were stored in the Holy Ark in the Holy Temple.

Q.Was there any difference between the first and second Tablets?

A.The first Tablets were completely made by G-d. The Tablets themselves and the inscription were all “G-d made.” The second Tablets were man made. Moshe brought the Tablets up the mountain and G-d inscribed the Ten Commandments in them.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY