We’re used to backing up data from our tablets to the cloud, but in this session, we’ll explore tablets that actually came from the clouds. The Ten Commandments have an unparalleled history: not only in the Bible, but in the courtrooms and classrooms as well. The Rabbis spent significant time focused on these texts, from attempting to figure out how the commandments were arranged on the tablets to analyzing the differences between the versions of the Ten Commandments in Parashat Yitro and Parashat Va’et·hannan. In this class, we’ll investigate the origins of the term “Ten Commandments,” and examine how various religions and religious denominations have divided up the verses into ten distinct commandments. (Spoiler alert: the culmination of this session will reflect the class title!)

Dan Savitt is in his 21st year of teaching 7th grade Jewish Studies at Schechter Boston. He and his family live in Somerville.