words and music by Debbie Friedman, debbiefriedman.com
Lyrics:
CHORUS
Well there were 613 commandments that Moses handed to us
As we stood at the foot of the mountain of Sinai
Our dear Moses started to fuss
He threw two tablets onto the ground
And much to our surprise
The ten commandments broke into pieces
And we couldn't believe our eyes.
Because the Torah was much too long to describe to all the Jews
Our God decided to write ten commandments that said the don'ts and do's
Every commandment talked about the way we have to live
When we work or play, cook or clean, borrow, take or give
Cause there were....CHORUS
As we stood at the bottom of the mountain and listened to Moshe
He asked how many wanted the Torah and a bunch of us said, "Yah";
We thought about the way life was and the way life ought to be
Without the Torah we would have been lost and stuck with idolatry
Cause there were....CHORUS
So when it's time to celebrate Chag HaShavuot
We all rejoice 'cause the Torah's ours to study, teach and quote
Had we not made a promise to be chosen and to choose
Remember that there wouldn't be a people called the Jews
Cause there were....
CHORUS