The Ten Commandments

Two articles at The Blaze caught my eye this evening.
The La Canada Unified school board in California voted unanimously — 5-0 — to fire a high school math teacher accused of calling a student “Jew boy.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/california-high-school-math-teacher-to-be-fired-for-calling-student-jew-boy/

Atheists now have their sights set on Newland, North Carolina, where the secular Freedom From Religion Foundation has sent a letter demanding that the town remove a Ten Commandments plaque from a government office building. In a letter sent to town manager Brenda Pittman, the group said that a local individual saw the display, was offended and would like it taken down.
Read full article: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-demand-nc-town-remove-ten-commandments-from-town-hall/

It is interesting how, as we read the Ten Commandments in this week's Torah portion, those same commandments are making the news. As atheists try to diminish their display, I find it only fitting to post a devar Torah I saw on Revach regarding the Ten Commandments.

The Ibn Ezra asks how can the Torah command a human not to "want" something his friend has. The Bais HaLevi wonders what the question is, since with a little Yiras Shamayim no one would desire his friends property. The Chinuch also says that a person is expected to control his desires.

Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Taam VaDaas) says that according to the Chinuch both the first of the Aseres HaDibros, believing in Hashem and last, Lo Sachmod, both are mitzvos of the heart. The aseres dibros are linked one to the other. It all starts with Emunah. Once you believe that Hashem controls the world and every detail of your life, at the end you can come to the level where you won't even desire your friend's lot. Without Emunah you cannot get anywhere. With it you can go far beyond what an ordinary human can achieve.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=5191