Cheesecake and The Big Ten

by Jill Maidhof

Author, teacher and presenter Rabbi Joseph Telushkin once told an audience that he watches what he eats pretty carefully. At the same time, he confessed that if he were about to bite into a piece of cheesecake and someone urged him to think twice, “…all I’d be thinking is ‘how soon is this guy going to leave so that I can enjoy my cake?’ ” Yet, if the same person reminded him that It was Yom Kippur, “I’d drop the plate immediately, and with no regrets!”

I identify completely. If I diet or fast or “cleanse” for a day, food will never be far from my mind. But on Yom Kippur I have no problem! I’ve wondered about this for years. How can I want something in the afternoon but not have cravings for it after the sun goes down?

How can I want something in the afternoon
but not have cravings for it after the sun goes down?

Interestingly, it’s my engagement with Chai Mitzvah’s Aseret: The Big Ten curriculum that’s provided an unscientific but very satisfying clue. The sourcebooks repeatedly speak about core values – those principles and beliefs that inform our emotions, our thoughts and our behaviors. It seems that most of us are very loyal to those values so that when we’re presented with a choice, they influence – perhaps even dictate – our “go to” decision.

The texts in Aseret suggest that the source of those values is The Ten Commandments. This derives from the fact that “The Big Ten” aren’t “commandments” at all. The Torah refers to them as “devarim,” statements, each of which is general in nature and relates to many situations. More correctly referred to as Ten Principles or Ten Core Values, they require just 172 words to provide us with a compass enabling us to make ethical decisions in every aspect of our lives. Like when and when not to enjoy a a bite of cheesecake! Through study and discussion, I am aware that one of my core values is to respect the authority of a Higher Power (“I am the Lord Your God”) and perhaps that’s why I don’t dwell on the Yom Kippur fast; it isn’t difficult, it’s a reflection of who I am.

Want to to know more? Get some friends together and explore “The Big Ten” together. It’s a great way to start the new year!