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An inside look at the five lost commandments

By Rabbi Marc Gellman, Tribune Content Agency on

Q: No doubt you've see Mel Brooks' "History of the World." There is a scene where Moses comes down from the mountain with 15 commandments from God. He has three tablets and one falls and breaks, leaving us with 10. What do you think were the lost five commandments? -- From L and J

A: A Good Thanksgiving table question! I will tell you my missing five commandments if you tell me yours, dear readers...

11. Never cut a line. (Wait your turn). The measure of our virtue is not constituted in our major acts of heroism. Life gives most of us precious few immense moral challenges. No, our measure of goodness is how we resist or do not resist the little temptations to cheat, lie and deceive.

12. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. The towering challenge of our present time is to resist the temptation to tell the people with whom we disagree politically that we think they are jerks. It is fine to think it, but it is not fine to say it because it shreds the fabric of civility in our culture. Just keep it to yourself and remain confident that time will teach them the truth.

13. Bundle your sticks. My favorite old wisdom saying from the Maasai tribe in Africa, "Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. Sticks alone can be broken by a child." We all need to be a part of a group where we protect each other and care for each other and are bundled up with each other. Alone we are lost, so get bundled.

14. Always say, "please" and "thank you." When you ask for something, try not to ask for it like they owe it to you. Don't make your requests sound like demands. Be humble in your life. Also, nobody owes you anything so when you get things try to be grateful. Everything God has given you is a gift, so start your pleases and thank yous with God.

 

15. Don't pee in the pool. Try not to do bad things even if there is no chance you will be caught. Nobody knows if you pee in the pool but it is unsanitary and gross. The big idea is to always try to act in private the same way you act in public.

(For more see my book, "Always Wear Clean Underwear.")

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-- Note from a smoky Gellman:

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