Question: How are the 613 commandments derived from the popular 10 commandments?

Answer: Great question! Many commentaries, going back about a millennium, elaborate on this idea, which was first recorded, in written form, even a millennium before that (in Midrash Rabba, Bamidbar 13:16). The medieval commentaries elaborating on that Midrash include such Torah giants as Rav Saadya Gaon and Ramban (Nachmanides).

Firstly, we have to understand the nature of what the Torah actually calls the “Aseres HaDibros“: the Ten Statements. These Statements were the words that G-d spoke to the entire Jewish People when we all stood at the foot of Mount Sinai over three thousand years ago. These Statements express ten general categories of thought and action that maintain and foster the relationship between the Divine and each of us.

Each of these Ten Statements contains at least one explicit commandment, and each of the other commandments that are explicated elsewhere, fall into one of these ten categories. (The idea of generalizing a multitude of specific entities into a single category is not foreign to us – fish and birds are general categories of living creatures, with each category containing many separate, but related, species).

For example, the first Statement explicitly commands every Jew to know that G-d is real (which requires, of course, much intellectual exploration and introspection). Included in this general category are the commandments to pray, to know and express that G-d is One, to love G-d, to love our fellow Jews (who are created in G-d’s image), to wear tefillin, put up mezuzas, to make blessings, and many others.

Included in the fourth Statement (to remember and guard the Shabbos) are the commandments to observe all the Jewish festivals (Pesach, Shavuos, Rosh HaShana, etc).

Included in the tenth Statement (not to covet other people’s possessions) is the commandment to respect the privacy of others, including, for example, not peeking into other people’s homes (through their windows or holes in their fences) as we’re walking down the street.

If you would look through a list of all the Torah commandments, you could probably guess into which of the Ten Statements each of them falls (or at least narrow it down to two or three Statements that seem related to it). You might find some surprises, but the general message behind this whole idea shouldn’t surprise anyone: The Torah is a complete, logical system for properly utilizing and appreciating the incredible gifts which our Creator has bestowed upon us; allowing us to build a proper relationship with that omniscient, all powerful Creator.

Wishing you much success in your growth in Torah,

Shlomo Shulman