Question:
I know this is not strictly a halacha question but what is the reason of the ancient minhag to have the 10 commandments on top of the Aron Hakodesh or paroches etc., surely that all the other 603 mitzvos are just as important? Is it not slightly misleading and would appear as a misrepresentation, such as in the Remo Siman 1 seif 4?
Thank you very much!
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
What the Rema is referring to is the minhag not to say the 10 commandments in public, because scoffers might say that these ten are the only things we are commanded to do, and not the other mitzvos. In truth however there is significance to the 10 commandments over the other ones in the sense, that it represents our receiving the Torah directly from G-D, and because chazal say that the 10 commandments really comprise all of the other mitzvos. Therefore, placing them on the Aron Hakodesh is essentially placing all the mitzvos up there. Additionally, having the 10 commandments on top of the place that the Torah I kept is a symbol that this torah was given directly from G-d, and it isn’t meant to show these commandments over others.
Another point, when a picture of the !0 commandments are placed on top of the Aron Hakodesh, the commandments are not fully written. Therefore, it is not the same as saying all of the 10 commandments, and the minhag does not have the issue you are referring to.
Best wishes
Sources:
Be’er Moshe 3-188 (2), Shraga Hameir 5-118, Teshuvos Vhanhagos 2 -535.
