Oral Law - Jessie H

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal deceitfully or falsely with one another.”

Although each mitzvot holds its own respective significant aspect, this one stood out to me in particular as it discusses a current ongoing moral code we continuously strive towards.  One can entail that along with stealing, all forms of deceitful or cruel actions one might inflict on another are regarded within the message. To me, I view this mitzvot to be describing honest interactions as the basis of humane success, a message that still needs ongoing emphasis in today’s society. A translation of transitioning this mitzvot into daily life could be through the phrases of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, or simply treating others as you would want to be treated. Personally, I think interpreting and carrying out this mitzvot is more about a general persona than specific actions. For example; I try to always be patient, honest, and kind when communicating with anyone. Whether that be trying to not judge someone upon meeting them, or being inclusive with those around me.  I believe you can also interpret this mitzvot to be advocating for the idea that we are often stronger working together, rather than only concerning ourselves with individual agendas. We should be looking to build one another up and come together, rather than be self-absorbed and isolated. Alongside this being a general principal goal for any Jew (along with it being moralistic, it is also clearly written in the Tanakh), this concept serves as a guideline for any individual generally seeking to carry out good actions, and in turn possibly influence the actions of those around them. As a Jewish person in the modern world, I see this mitzvot as an opportunity to not only encourage peacefulness within people, but acceptance of diverse differences between groups.  Coming from a culture not always regarded positively, it can be easy to mentally isolate your religion from other parts of your every day life, or even be hesitant to share with others all parts of yourself. It’s important as a Jew or any individual to instill pride and confidence in your identity, and in turn respect the identities of all others in an equal manner.

The photograph I created is an image of two of my friends sharing food at a meal. The message meaning to be conveyed is that even though everyone was hungry after a long bus ride, the people in the photo are treating one another respectfully and equally. Rather than eating before the other, or even stealing the other’s food, the two individuals are creating an open and kind environment.