US Jewish Religious Figure: "Moses and 10 Commandments"

This sculpture depicts the Jewish prophet Moses holding the two tablets containing the 10 Commandments.

The figure is a sculpture by Guiseppe Macri of "Moses and the Ten Commandments" signed and copyrighted 1969. The back of the sculpture is inscribed with a copyright "Sc ©" and "MACRI 1969".

The so-called "Ten Commandments" are recorded in the Torah. In the Torah, these statements are called "Aseret ha-D'varim," translated as the ten sayings or declarations. Although there are 613 commandments within the Torah, the first ten are considered the most important. They are as follows: I am the Lord your God and you shall have no other gods besides me; you shall not make yourself a graven image; you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain; remember the Sabbath day; honor your father and your mother; you shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not covet.

The two tablets have become a favorite Jewish symbol, which are usually placed over the ark in the synagogue, and are usually inscribed either with the first ten letters of the alphabet, or with the first words of the Ten Commandments. The two tablets are also seen in different art forms from stone and metals to plates and wall hangings.

Judaism is a religion in which people believe that there is one god (monotheism), the same god the Christians and Muslims worship, who created the universe and has a personal relationship with humans. The religion was founded in Israel about 4,000 years ago by Abraham, who entered into a covenant with God to follow the laws of God. Moses received the Jewish holy book from God. Scholars disagree about whether there is an afterlife. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who may bring about an afterlife.

See also: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436913
Source:
Source Citation (MLA 7th Edition) Greenberg, Moshe, Aaron Rothkoff, and David Kadosh. "Decalogue." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 520-526. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587505021&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w "Tablets of the Law." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 19. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 425. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. http://www.jewfaq.org/10.htm Document URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587519496&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w