Torah scroll at Hurva Synagogue
Torah scroll at Hurva SynagogueYoni Kempinski

As we approach the Jewish holiday of Shavuot this Saturday night, commemorating the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, I throw out a controversial opinion: We over-emphasize our relationship with G-d, and undervalue our behavior with His creations. They ought to be pursued equally.

When a prospective convert comes to the pre-eminent Sage Hillel and says, "I will convert to Judaism if you teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot", what can Hillel possibly say? How do you summarize the central teaching of a 5,888 verse Torah? Is it fair to ask someone to distill the central point of their faith in a few words? 

Click here to download the podcast