Autor: Marcus Gundlach

Blogger (marcusgundlac12) and Poet, jewish, early-retired Socialworker

Why listen to the 10 words – misleaded called „10 commandments“

This Shabbat is Public Reading of Parasha Jitro. The great advantage of hearing the 10 words of Hashem rather than counting them is that they go directly to our hearts, rather than to our minds. The latter is always limited and sometimes lies, while the heart (the Jewish people) is addressed directly by Hashem as a whole, based on all the relationships and knowledge that has been made. I learn from this that Hashem, the people and the land form a unity and that nothing and no one is above G-d or can join „HIM“.

613 Mitzwot and the Aseret haDibrot

All 613 commandments of the Torah are of eternal relevance and cannot be exchanged or replaced with one another. The Aseret haDibrot are ‚Ten Statements‘ that contain all 613 Mitzvot.

It is therefore important to take them seriously as a monotheist and Jew, because that is what they are intended for. Let us never forget that all commandments of the Torah are and remain irreplaceable. This is important to know because it was popes, among others, who introduced a modified version for the Christian public in order to subsequently deviate their interpretations from Hashem’s Eternal Covenant with his people and claim that it had been replaced.

I would therefore like to call on everyone to read and compare the Aseret haDibrot in the original Hebrew or an authorized translation in another language. There are blatant deviations – even today.

This is precisely why the commandments of the Torah are never suitable for harnessing them to the cart of particular interests. It is simply wrong, misleading and forbidden. This is why we Jews, all of us – regardless of whether we are Kohen, Levi or Jew – insist on the original and that is not interchangeable in Hebrew. This year, the Aseret haDibrot will also be read, heard and hopefully understood in public, because only if we Jews and you discuss the essence of all 613 Mitzvot can we ensure that Hashem’s differentiated address to his people is guaranteed for all time.

Zur Wahl 2025 in Deutschland

Heute möchte ich, als Jude, Klartext reden:

In einer Zeit, in der gelogen wird, dass die Wahrheit nicht mehr erkennbar ist, ist es umso wichtiger die eigene Jüdischkeit hochzuhalten, sie zu pflegen und wertzuschätzen – das tue ich und viele meiner Brüder und Schwestern.

Viele aber, fühlen sich wie in den 30er Jahren; nur dass sich heute niemand verantwortlich zeigt, für eine Demokratie in Deutschland, die nur von der Mitte der politischen Landschaft – ganz sicher nicht von extremen Rändern von Links oder Rechts – zum Guten gestaltet werden kann.

In einer Zeit, in der wir Antisemitismus importieren, durch muslimische Parallelgesellschaften verstärkt und ungeregelter Einwanderung aus muslimischen Ländern, ist es wichtig jeglichem Extremismus eine klare Absage in der Wahlkabine zu geben und sich für eine Politik zu entscheiden, die Hass und Gewalt begrenzt und in seine Schranken verweist. Lassen Sie sich nicht manipulieren durch die extremen Rattenfängern, die auf der Klaviatur der Emotionen des einfachen Bürgers spielt und so mancher sich als Alternative oder Löser der gesellschaftlichen Probleme präsentiert, die er selber geschaffen hat.

Nein, in einer Zeit, wie die unsrige, gilt es die Demokratie zu retten. Wir haben in Deutschland die Pflicht die Werte zu unterstützen durch unsere Wahl für den Deutschen Bundestag, die zum einen den Missbrauch unserer Sozialsysteme durch die Alimentierung Arbeitsfähiger beendet, damit diejenigen, die wirklich Unterstützung benötigen, dies auch finanziert bekommen. Nur eine starke Wirtschaft kann die Werte schaffen, die dann auch als Steuereinnahmen dem Staat zufließen und neu verteilt werden müssen. Wir brauchen eine Regierung, die nicht an den Bedürfnissen der Bevölkerung vorbeiregiert und erst recht keine Heuchler die es mit jüdischem Leben in Deutschland nicht ernst meinen oder sogar offen dieses anfeinden.

Ja, es lohnt sich für Deutschland einzustehen und hier Aufbauarbeit zu leisten, die geschützt und gefördert werden muss.

For the forgetful

For the forgetful…

These are victims of the Bergen-Belsen extermination camp (1945)

I do not lack the language to deal with the horror, to give it faces and fates…

Anyone who no longer recognizes and names the fascism of Islamists, right-wingers and left-wingers in the here and now is no better than the many fellow travelers in Germany who made the Shoah possible in the first place.

Thoughts at Parasha Wa’era…

I’m currently busy with the Parasha Wa’era that will be read in the synagogues this week. Moshe doesn’t have an easy time in it, neither with Pharaoh nor with the Israelites, who still want to remain in their ‚Narrow Land‘; but it is Moshe who turns to G‑d and complains about his problems. On the one hand he refers to his difficulties with his own speaking – he was never a good speaker – on the other hand he refers to the behavior of the Israelites. But what he does not do, and this is of great importance, is that he allows Pharaoh to have power over him personally. Moshe takes his mission seriously and his leadership qualities are exactly the opposite of what defines the Pharaoh. Let us choose the Moshe within us and not the Pharaoh; Because only with G-d’s will, even if it is currently hidden, is behavior towards freedom possible.

Parasha Bo – the Liberation from Mizrajim

I noticed the following in Parasha Bo. Firstly, the ETERNAL teaches us many laws. They are a double expression of importance, because on the one hand they are listed in great numbers in the Parasha; on the other hand, as laws and legal statutes, they underline the obligation for our lives and relationships with one another. Topics in Parasha Bo include the Seder evening and refer directly to Passover, the counting of the Omer, Shavuot and the right of first fruits.

The Parasha itself reports another encounter with Pharaoh after they, Moshe and Aharon, were brought back to his house.

Pharaoh declares harshly:
„Serve HIM, your God!“

He thereby shows that he is reluctant to make this statement and that „your God“ cannot mean the G-d of Israel.

Moshe speaks to Pharaoh as the answerer, although no question was asked…
„We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, with our flock and our herds, – it is HIM who is our feast.“

Yes, Pharaoh is the prototype of the anti-Semite. He says that the LORD will be with the Israelites, i.e. Jews, the moment he lets them go. He presumes to equate himself with the G-d of Israel by equating his decision to release them with the LORD who is there for his people. Interestingly, the Torah says of the events: „So may the Lord be with you, as I have let you go with your children! See that your plan is evil!“

With Pharaoh, we are clearly dealing with a projective identification. The evil is split off from oneself and attached to the Jews. A phenomenon that extends to the present day.

The further plagues come immediately…

It goes on like this, for every sin of Pharaoh, the next plague comes. And in this process of being held accountable for his misdeeds, Pharaoh’s true attitude becomes ever clearer. Until in the end the locusts leave nothing in Mizrajim. Everything is a divine plan, because it says in Bo 10:20: „And the LORD strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he did not let the children of Israel go.“

Then darkness follows over Mizrajim… a full three days. You have to In this context, we should remember that in Egypt the sun was worshipped as the deity Re. But there was light in all the dwellings of the children of Israel.

Again, Pharaoh says that all men can go, but not without the immediate restriction that this does not include sheep and cattle. Moshe answers him that sacrifices and burnt offerings must be offered to the Eternal. Therefore, he tells Him that the livestock must also come along. Pharaoh is beside himself and angry and does not want to let them go. Here, too, the G-d of Israel hardens Pharaoh’s heart and so he says to Moshe: „You have spoken rightly, I will never see your face again.“

This is the last sentence in chapter 10.

Then the ETERNAL explains to Moshe that he wants to bring another plague and that then Pharaoh will let the Israelites go. He says that they will be driven out. It is the death of all the firstborn of Mizrajim.

For details, I ask for intensive Torah study of the text, because it contains many more important statements… with regard to the liberation of Israel from Mizraim.

Parasha Shemot

At the moment I am dealing with the first words of the weekly section Shemot. Not long ago, the sons of Israel were mentioned in the previous week’s section when it was explained that they did not hear Joseph’s lamentation. But now all the sons of Israel who came from the womb of Yaakov are listed. This means that all those listed are listed as sons Yaakov applies and is. This statement makes me extremely happy. Joseph died in the diaspora. Then the Torah reports that the children of Israel were fruitful, swarmed and multiplied. Now comes a very important passage, because afterwards they would become powerful!!! It is this strong external influence that is seen critically, because the Torah further reports that a new king arose in Mizrayim who knew nothing about Joseph. So it was Joseph himself who ensured that the people in power did not have anything evil happened. Now the situation is fundamentally changing – there is a new ruler.

What can we learn from this… The political situation can change and with it the assessment and treatment of the Jewish people. The diaspora is therefore always only a temporary arrangement and only the second best place – after Israel – for a Jew.

(see Shemot 1:1 – 1:7)