The Tenth Commandment tells us, “Do not covet…” (Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21). Coveting is not a word we often use in the modern English, but when we do use it, we usually define it as desiring someone else’s stuff.
But the Torah passage כי תצא Ki Tetze (“when you go forth,” Deut. 21:10-25:19) teaches us that there’s more at heart than just desire for that brand new car in your neighbor’s garage. We are taught to be content with what we have — especially, our spouse — and not to usurp or seize what’s not ours. Treating others fairly is part of the “Golden Rule,” also known as the “Second Greatest Commandment”: Love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev. 19:18).
