Hayom Yom 17 Tammuz - Difference between First Tablets and Second Tablets

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Jul 1, 2026 · 7m

תַּעֲנִית, סְלִיחוֹת, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ

A fast day. The Selichos prayers and Avinu Malkeinu are recited [in the Morning Service].

חִלּוּק לוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת וְלוּחוֹת הָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת

The difference between the First Tablets and the Second Tablets can be outlined as follows:

בַּלּוּחוֹת עַצְמָן

With regard to the Tablets themselves:

הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹקִים

The First Tablets were fashioned by G‑d;

הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת פְּסָל לְךָ

the Second Tablets were hewn by Moshe.

הַמִּכְתָּב

With regard to the writing on the Tablets:

חָרוּת עַל הַלּוּחוֹת שֶׁכִּדְרָשַׁת רַזַ"ל, עֵרוּבִין (נד. א), הוּא…