Boost #74 The Constitution of a Covenantal People

Shabbat is more than a day of rest—it’s a weekly opportunity to pause from our routine and reconnect with what matters most: our values, our families, and our relationship with God. In this way, the diber of Shabbat is the example for all Jewish holidays and their themes.

Today marked the beginning of the Three Weeks—”Bein HaMetzarim”—between the straits, the  period between the fast of 17 Tammuz and Tisha B’Av. The Sages saw this as a time to mourn  the destruction of the Temples. But we are not merely mourning lost buildings; we’re mourning the breakdown of a relationship—the central point of our covenantal relationship with God.

Yet, within mourning lies hope. The return of Jews to the Land of Israel reignited the dream of covenantal renewal. As Rabbi Chaim Hirschensohn taught, Torah isn’t just a set of laws—it’s the foundation of Jewish nationhood. While other nations are built on land or lineage, we are built on covenant – anyone can convert and we survived without a land, albeit not ideal. With the return to Israel we have an opportunity to restore the principles of our covenant to modern society. What would it mean to live in a society where foundational principles of the Aseret HaDibrot, the Ten Commandments, shape public life? What might it look like for the Tablets to be not only stuck on Synagogue walls, but lived in the marketplace? I am imagining today what it would be like if everyone in Israel took the time to stop and think about this question.

Each day this week, when you face a moral choice or witness an ethical challenge, pause and ask: “Which of the Ten Commandments speaks to this moment?” “Is there a specific Mitzvah that could be applied?”

Then take it one step further—imagine what the State of Israel would look like if that commandment were a foundational part of its national life and constitution.

Set your intention for the day by reciting The Aseret Affirmation: Ten for Ten first thing in the morning.