Commandments
Re “Ten Commandments Proposal Illustrates Peril to Politicians,” July 14: I would like to add two further differences as to how the religions view the Ten Commandments. Even though some of the English translations of the Hebrew Pentateuch translate the Hebrew word reyacha as “your neighbor,” the correct translation is “your dear friend.” This would apply in the prohibitions against bearing false witness and coveting. The prohibitions against murder, adultery and stealing apply in all cases and are not limited in any way.
This same word (reyacha) is used in Leviticus 19:18, and the translation “you shall love your dear friend as yourself” is much more realistic than “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The second item is that Judaism, as well as the Protestant and Greek Orthodox churches, also stresses the ban on making graven images.
JACK HEILPERN
Laguna Woods
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