Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: While certainly it's good to be introspective and there is a strong concept of reward and punishment in Judaism, there is something about us Jews where we tend to want to go a little more and a little farther. In some cases, we are doing "hiddur mitzvah" (beautification of the Mitzvah) which is praiseworthy, but in other cases, we may be adding unnecessary "chumras" (i.e. stringencies) than can backfire religiously. My unequivocal preference is to follow my father's teaching to me of the Rambam's "Shvil Ha'zahav" (i.e. the golden path) and not go too far to the left or to the right, but keep a healthy middle of the road approach to life.

1. 5/24/2020 The 11th Commandment | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-11th-commandment/?preview_id=804186&preview_nonce=2012ba2cc0&preview=true 1/4
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal
It’s a funny thing about being Jewish, there is no such thing as being an
overachiever.
The 11th
Commandment

2. 5/24/2020 The 11th Commandment | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-11th-commandment/?preview_id=804186&preview_nonce=2012ba2cc0&preview=true 2/4
And this week is the holiday of Shavuot when we celebrate the giving of the
Torah, yet even when it comes to keeping the commandments, G-d had to tell
us (Deut. 4:2):
Yet, how many times do I hear about fellow Jews trying to “out-frum” (i.e. be
holier than thou) other Jews: whether it’s in terms of Kashrut, Shabbat or even
who stayed up the latest for the Passover Seder. Recently, when it came to
coronavirus, I was more than a little shocked to read that someone actually
attributed the disease to it being a punishment from G-d because women’s
skirts are not being worn long enough.
While certainly it’s good to be introspective and there is a strong concept of
reward and punishment in Judaism, there is something about us Jews where we
tend to want to go a little more and a little farther. In some cases, we are doing
“hiddur mitzvah” (beautification of the Mitzvah) which is praiseworthy, but in
other cases, we may be adding unnecessary “chumras” (i.e. stringencies) than
can backfire religiously. My unequivocal preference is to follow my father’s
teaching to me of the Rambam’s “Shvil Ha’zahav” (i.e. the golden path) and not
go too far to the left or to the right, but keep a healthy middle-of-the-road
approach to life.
The question is when are we doing the right thing such as with a needed “geder”
(i.e. fence) to protect our sacred traditions and our people from assimilation,
and when are we being a little impulsive, compulsive, or overachievers, which
risks pushing people away from Judaism because we may make it more onerous
rather than something that can be done naturally and with love.
The idea of not extending the Jewish laws manifests itself with the Ten
Commandment–note there are only ten! Yet, frequently there comes up the
You shall not add to that which I command you and you shall not subtract
from it.”
“

3. 5/24/2020 The 11th Commandment | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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notion of an eleventh commandment as if the ten from G-d on Mount Sinai
didn’t cover things adequately. Some of the 11th Commandments I’ve come
across (the first three which I can agree with):
Love the stranger (i.e. your neighbor) as yourself. (Lev. 19:34)
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. (Hillel)
“Charity was the eleventh, the unwritten commandment.” (Leon Uris in
Exodus)
Be good, and if you can’t be good be careful (i.e. Don’t get caught).
Don’t feel guilty if you can’t do the other 10!
As we examine the 11th commandments, in some, we are looking for a quick
elevator speech or brief summary of the other ten on how to live our lives. In
the others, we are seeking an easy way out or how to get off the hook perhaps
because of our own personal weaknesses or inadequacies.
In the end, the number of commandments are what they are, and with 613
throughout the Torah, there is enough to keep us all busy—doing what is right
between us and G-d and with our fellow man. While we may like to overachieve
in our careers, our education, and our pedigrees, it is not necessary to try to
outdo each other religiously. Religion is a matter between us and Hashem and
G-d knows what is in our hearts and counts up all our deeds according to His
holy Torah with nothing added and nothing subtracted.

4. 5/24/2020 The 11th Commandment | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a business and technology leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.