I am afraid that I would have to take exception to the rather simplistic attempt to contrast Mosaic law with the two Great Commandments — their intent is not the same, so you are comparing apples and oranges (or, perhaps, I should say dates and pomegranates).

Christianity has a singular focus on an other-worldly salvation, while Jewish law is intended to guide you through this life … not save you from an eternal damnation which Judaism has never taught. There are far more than ten commandments in the Torah: tradition affirms a total of 613, of which 365 are negative (avoid this) and 248 are positive (do this instead). The Talmud — and there are two versions — is a massive commentary which covers almost every conceivable situation which our ancestors could stumble into. For example, do you have a right to pluck fruit from your neighbor’s tree if a branch extends over your property? And if you are a manual laborer, trudging home exhausted every night, how often are you obligated to satisfy your spouse’s sexual needs? Yes, really, it is that detailed.

The Great Commandments may be sufficient to get you through the pearly gates, if such exist, but would be a poor substitute for Jewish law while you are on your earthly journey. After all, just imagine what would happen if your state legislature scrapped your entire code of laws and replaced them with the following: (1) Love and be loyal to your State; and (2) Treat all of your fellow citizens with love and the respect that you yourself desire. Pure chaos would ensue, would it not?

It occurs to me that Christians could find a way to elevate their own religion without taking gratuitous swipes at Judaism, a faith that very few of them understand.