The Sabbath has two encompassing elements: zachor and shamor (Exodus ch.20; Deuteronomy ch.5). Zachor (remember) alludes to observances that we do, such as the Kiddush over wine. Shamor (guard) refers to what we must not do, which are the 39 categories of work that are not done on the Sabbath.
The two Shabbos (Sabbath) candles represent Zachor (Exodus ch. 20, remember the shabbos) and Shamor (Deuteronomy ch. 5, keep the shabbos). All of the Yamim Tovim (festivals), Pessach (Passover) included, are also termed "shabbos" and share in many of the shabbos laws and observances, including lighting two candles shortly before the holy day begins.
The Shabbat candles symbolize the dual commandments to remember and observe the Sabbath day. Lighting the candles marks the beginning of the Sabbath and signifies the separation between the ordinary week and the sacred day of rest. The two candles typically represent the two aspects of Shabbat observance: zachor (remember) and shamor (observe). The candles also bring light and warmth into the home, creating a peaceful and festive atmosphere for the Sabbath meal.
Because of the two different phrases (Zachor and Shamor) in which the Torah tells us to observe the Sabbath (see Exodus ch.20 and Deuteronomy ch.5). We light two candles to remember these commandments throughout the sabbath day.
"Anochi HaShem Elokecha…" - "I am the L-rd your G-d, etc." - To have faith in G-d's existence, His concern for the world, His intervention at will in the affairs of the world, and His infinite might."Lo Yiheheh Lecha …" - "You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence, etc." - the prohibition against idolatry."Lo Tisa …" - You shall not take the Name of the L-rd your G-d in vain, etc." - Do not disgrace Hashem's Name by using it for no valid purpose. This mainly refers to swearing an oath to HaShem that you do not mean to keep are cannot keep.Version A: "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho …" - "Remember the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc. - Sanctify the Day of Shabbat by treating it as a Day of Delight, and by the recitation of Kiddush, etc. (Shemot 20:8-11) Version B: "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho…" - "Protect the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc" - Observe the Day of Shabbat as a Day of Rest by refraining from "Melacha," creative, purposeful interaction with nature, etc. (Devarim 5:12-15)"Kabed et avicha v'et imecha…" - "Honor your Father and your Mother…" - Revering and honoring one's parents is considered a basic commandment in Judaism from the perspective that there are three partners involved in the creation of a human being: one's parents and G-d Himself. That is why this Commandment is included with the first five, which are considered basically between Man and his Creator. This is also understood to refer to teachers."Lo Tirtzach" - "You shall not Murder" - Since the human being is created in the "image of G-d," the level of seriousness of violation of this commandment should not be minimized. Certain taking of life is sanctioned by the Torah, as is the case in the "arba mitot bet din," the four forms of capital punishment, which are at least theoretically part of the legal code of the Torah; or the taking of life involved in a "milchemet mitzvah," "an obligatory war." However, outside of the limited exceptions, the diminution of the "Tzelem Elokim," the "image of G-d" in the world is one of the three Cardinal crimes, for which one must give up his or her life, rather than violate."Lo Tinaf" - "You shall not commit adultery" - Strictly speaking, this prohibition involves cohabiting with a married woman."Lo Tignov" - Literally, this means "You shall not steal;" however, this Commandment has been interpreted to refer to only one kind of theft; namely, to someone who kidnaps a person, forces him or her to work for him, and then sells him or her into slavery. This, like the previous prohibitions mentioned in the verse, murder and adultery, is a Capital Crime; that is, punishable by the death-penalty. "Garden-variety" stealing is prohibited by the Torah in Vayikra 19:11, where it says "You shall not steal, you shall not deny falsely, and you should not lie one to another.""Lo Taaneh ve'reacha ed shaker" - "Do not give false testimony against your neighbor." Giving testimony is a very serious matter in Judaism; one then has the power with words to directly affect someone else's life."Lo Tachmod beit reiecha,…" - "You shall not covet your fellow's house. You shall not covet your fellow's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow." This is an area where the Torah legislates regarding a person's inner thoughts and feelings. Only a Divine Lawgiver could possibly legislate in this way, for He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. The meaning of the prohibition is that a person should regard another's possessions as totally beyond his possibility of acquisition.Read more: What_are_the_Ten_Commandments
The Aseret HaDibrot or Ten Statements are (from OU.org):1. "Anochi HaShem Elokecha…" - "I am the L-rd your G-d, etc." - To have faith in G-d's existence, His concern for the world, His intervention at will in the affairs of the world, and His infinite might.2. "Lo Yiheheh Lecha …" - "You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence, etc." - the prohibition against idolatry. One of the three Cardinal Sins, for which one must give up one's life rather than violate it.3. "Lo Tisa …" - You shall not take the Name of the L-rd your G-d in vain, etc." - Do not disgrace Hashem's Name by using it for no valid purpose.4. Version A: "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho …" -"Remember the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc. - Sanctify the Day of Shabbat by treating it as a Day of Delight, and by the recitation of Kiddush, etc. (Shemot 20:8-11) Version B: "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho…" - "Protect the Day of Shabbat to Keep it Holy, etc" - Observe the Day of Shabbat as a Day of Rest by refraining from "Melacha," creative, purposeful interaction with nature, etc. (Devarim 5:12-15)5. "Kabed et avicha v'et imecha…" - "Honor your Father and your Mother…" - Revering and honoring one's parents is considered a basic commandment in Judaism from the perspective that there are three partners involved in the creation of a human being: one's parents and G-d Himself. That is why this Commandment is included with the first five, which are considered basically between Man and his Creator.6. "Lo Tirtzach" - "You shall not Murder" - Since the human being is created in the "image of G-d," the level of seriousness of violation of this commandment should not be minimized. Certain taking of life is sanctioned by the Torah, as is the case in the "arba mitot bet din," the four forms of capital punishment, which are at least theoretically part of the legal code of the Torah; or the taking of life involved in a "milchemet mitzvah," "an obligatory war." However, outside of the limited exceptions, the diminution of the "Tzelem Elokim," the "image of G-d" in the world is one of the three Cardinal crimes, for which one must give up his or her life, rather than violate.7. "Lo Tinaf" - "You shall not commit adultery" - Strictly speaking, this prohibition involves cohabiting with a married woman; this is another of the Three Cardinal Sins, regarding which one must forfeit his life rather than violating.8. "Lo Tignov" - Literally, this means "You shall not steal;" however, this Commandment has been interpreted to refer to only one kind of theft; namely, to someone who kidnaps a person, forces him or her to work for him, and then sells him or her into slavery. This, like the previous prohibitions mentioned in the verse, murder and adultery, is a Capital Crime; that is, punishable by the death-penalty. "Garden-variety" stealing is prohibited by the Torah in Vayikra 19:11, where it says "You shall not steal, you shall not deny falsely, and you should not lie one to another."9. "Lo Taaneh ve'reacha ed shaker" - "Do not give false testimony against your neighbor." Giving testimony is a very serious matter in Judaism; one then has the power with words to directly affect someone else's life.10. "Lo Tachmod beit reiecha,…" - "You shall not covet your fellow's house. You shall not covet your fellow's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow." This is an area where the Torah legislates regarding a person's inner thoughts and feelings. Only a Divine Lawgiver could possibly legislate in this way, for He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. The meaning of the prohibition is that a person should regard another's possessions as totally beyond his possibility of acquisition.
They still are as God's law is eternal. You may read of these in Exodus 20. //Abbrieviated listing: 1. You shall have no gods before Me. 2. You shall make no graven images and bow down and worship them. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. 5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother. 6. Thou shall not commit murder. 7. Thou shall not commit adultery. 8. Thou shall not steal. 9. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 10. Thou shall not covet.//
Jewish Answer: The phrase "The Ten Commandments," although very well known, isn't the precise name. The original wording (which is in Hebrew) is "Aseret HaDibrot" which translates to "The Ten Statements" or "The Ten Utterances." All the 613 mitzvot (commands) found in the Torah relate back to these statements. They are:"Anochi HaShem Elokecha..." (I am the Lord your God....): To believe in God's existence, His concern for the world, His intervention at will in the affairs of the world, and His infinite might."Lo Yihyeh Lecha ..." (You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence....): the prohibition against idolatry."Lo Tisa ..." (You shall not use the Name of the Lord your God in vain....): Do not disgrace God's name by using it for no valid purpose. This especially refers to swearing with God's name, an oath that you do not mean to keep or cannot keep.Version A: "Zachor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kad'sho ..." (Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy....): Sanctify the day of Shabbat by treating it as a day of delight, and by the recitation of Kiddush, etc. (Exodus 20:8-11). Version B: "Shamor et Yom HaShabbat L'Kadesho..." (Guard the day of Shabbat to keep it holy....): Observe the day of Shabbat as a day of rest by refraining from work: creative, purposeful interaction with nature. (Deuteronomy 5:12-15)."Kabed et avicha v'et imecha..." (Honor your father and your mother...): Revering and honoring one's parents is considered a basic commandment in Judaism from the perspective that there are three partners involved in the creation of a human being: one's parents and God Himself. That is why this Commandment is included with the first five, which are considered to be between Man and his Creator. This is also understood, by extension, to refer to teachers."Lo Tirtzach" (You shall not murder): Since the human being is created in the "image of God," the level of seriousness of violation of this commandment should not be minimized. Certain taking of life is sanctioned by the Torah, as is the case in the "arba mitot beit din," the four forms of capital punishment, which are at least theoretically part of the legal code of the Torah; or the taking of life involved in a milchemet mitzvah, an obligatory war. However, outside of the limited exceptions, the diminution of the "Tzelem Elokim," the "image of God" in the world, is one of the three cardinal crimes, for which one must give up his or her life, rather than violate."Lo Tinaf" (You shall not commit adultery): the prohibition of cohabiting with a married woman."Lo Tignov" (You shall not steal)."Lo Taaneh ve'reacha ed shaker" (Do not testify falsely against your neighbor): Giving testimony is a very serious matter in Judaism, because it has the power to directly affect someone else's life."Lo Tachmod beit rei'echa..." (You shall not covet your fellow's house, his wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your fellow): This is a matter in which the Torah legislates regarding a person's inner thoughts and feelings. Only a Divine Lawgiver could possibly legislate in this way, for He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings.Christian Answer: The Ten Commandments were given directly to Moses by God at Mount Sinai after He had delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt.They appear twice in the first five books of the Bible (The Torah, or 5 Books of Moses): in Exodus 20:2-17 (sometimes referred to as the "Ritual Decalogue") and in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (the "Ethical Decalogue"). Each of the major religions and denominations which use the 10 Commandments puts them in a slightly different order and wording.In the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, the first and second of these are considered one commandment. In the Catholic and Lutheran Christian traditions, the first three of these are considered one commandment, and the final one of these is considered two commandments. In most other Christian traditions, the first of these is not considered a commandment.Exodus 20New King James Version (NKJV) 20 And God spoke all these words, saying:2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image; any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who iswithin your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.13 "You shall not murder.14 "You shall not commit adultery.15 "You shall not steal.16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."Aditional Answer:The Ten Commandments are purported to be heavenly laws given by God to Moses. They are the blueprint for how Jews and Christians are to live their lives. Also they were a covenant between God and His people (Exodus ch.19).1.you shall have no other before me.2.you shall not make you self a graven image... you shall not bow down to them and worship them.3.You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.4.remember the sabbath, to keep it holy.5.Honer you mother and father.6.You shall not kill.7.you shall not commit adultery.8.you shall not steal.9.you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.10.you shall not covet your neighbors house.
There are 9 candles that are lit on Hanukkah. One is the helper candle ("shamash") used to light the other 8, which symbolize the 8 days of Hanukkah.A story in the Talmud (500 years after the Maccabean War) tells of a legendary miracle. After the war, When the Jews returned to rededicate the Ancient Temple, they found that there was only enough oil to keep the eternal lamp burning for 1 day. It would take 8 days to make more of this special oil. So they lit the lamp, and it miraculously burned for 8 days, giving them plenty of time to make more oil to keep the lamp burning.Although this is just a legend, in modern times, we light candles to symbolize the miracle of the oil lasting 8 days.Answer:The above answer is non-traditional. Our tradition is that the miracle of the oil did indeed occur and isn't just a legend. If it wasn't for the clear tradition of our Sages, Hanukkah would have been forgotten long ago. The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. The Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah.When they reached the Temple grounds and prepared to light the oil lamps of the Temple's menorah (Exodus ch.25), they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil. Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah and its candles symbolize: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we celebrate Hanukkah.The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil. It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."