The mitzvah tag has no wiki summary.
2
votes
1answer
39 views
Why do we still even try to do Sheluach HaKan?
If we don't need the birds' eggs, as they used to, why do we send a mother bird away from her own eggs just to fulfill the mitzvah of Sheluach HaKan? Would the mitzvah even apply if we are doing it ...
4
votes
3answers
111 views
Do a mitzva for mashiach?
I recently saw in The Moshiach Times, a popular Chabad-Lubavitch publication for children, an exhortation to "do a mitzvah for moshiach": to do a mitzva with the specific purpose of hastening the ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
Sefirat ha'omer as Conditional mitzvah
Are there any other “mitzvot” besides counting S’fira that are cumulative? In other words, if you forget a day of S’fira you can no longer count with a bracha. Are there any other types of mitzvot ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Do you get credit for unintentional mitzvot?
I have heard stories such as
A wealthy man felt like abandoning his Judaism and went to the kotel to 'say his goodbyes'. There he saw a chasid davening with such fervor and tears that the wealthy ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Is it a greater mitzvah to return a lost item anonymously?
While of course it is a mitzvah to give tzadekah, I have heard (though I don't have any attribution) that different kinds of giving are of different worth. Particularly, I have heard that giving ...
4
votes
3answers
71 views
Honoring parental requests that don't benefit the parents
If one's parents ask him to do something that is not beneficial to the parents in any way whatsoever (though not harmful to the parents, the child, or anyone else, either), is he nonetheless obligated ...
1
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0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
10
votes
3answers
158 views
Can a single-parent father be exempt from time-bound mitzvot?
Rabbis such as Abudraham have explained a woman's exemption from positive time-bound commandments (mitzvot shehazman grama) in terms of a woman's ongoing and preliminary role in supporting her ...
0
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0answers
57 views
What is so special about the 613 mitzvos?
There are arguments in the Rishonim about what the 613 mitzvos are. But even if you hold something's not part of the 613, it's still a mitzva, so what's so special if it is part of the 613?
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Do Jews have to keep the 7 Noahide laws?
Well, I heard that a Jew only has to keep a Noahide law if it's repeated in the Torah, since Jews aren't obligated in Noahide laws. The practical application of this would be an exemption from the law ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Allowing the forbidden for the sake of a Mitzvah
There are a few mitzvot which are effected through the use of that which is specifically forbidden. The first two examples are of tzitzit being made from shatnez and the mei sotah being infused with ...
3
votes
2answers
62 views
Why does the Haggadah tell us that “Even if they are all Chachmim” they are obligated in Sippur?
Why does the Haggadah tell us that "Even if they are all Chachmim..." they are obligated in Sippur? Are ChaChamim excluded from any other Mitzvot? Do they not have to pick up a Lulav because they are ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
How can you keep Shabbos till Tuesday?
I have heard that there are people who keep Shabbos till Tuesday. I would like to understand how that works practically. A few examples of puzzling situations:
What shmoneh esrei does such a person ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
At what cost must one perform a mitzvah?
To what lengths must one go to fulfill a positive commandment, or avoid transgressing a negative one?
Obviously, with few exceptions, one must not go so far as to die in order to fulfill a ...
5
votes
0answers
54 views
What defines “on this earth” from a halachic standpoint?
Rabbi Ben-Zion Firrer asked whether Torah Law must be observed in space, since Deuteronomy 12:1 says one should follow the Commandments "all of the days which you are alive on this earth."
What ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Wearing pieces from two different sets of tefillin
Tefillin are usually thought of as coming in sets, one for the hand (shel yad) and one for the head (shel rosh). But is there any reason two sets can't be mixed and matched? May one wear tefillin ...
3
votes
0answers
60 views
Pretending in kiyum hamitzvot
When a woman (or, if need be, a man) lights candles for Shabbat, she covers her eyes before making the bracha to "pretend" that the candles aren't lit yet because we generally say the bracha before ...
1
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0answers
19 views
What are the differences between G-d's mitzvos, chukkim and mishpatim?
In Parasha Netzavim, Devarim 30:16, we learn the commandment to love Hashem, to walk in His ways, and to keep "His commandments [mitzvosav] and His statutes [v'chukosav] and His ordinances ...
-1
votes
1answer
40 views
Commandments on emotions [duplicate]
I can understand if the Torah commands one to wear tefilin or put on a mezuza.
But to command a person not to hate anyone, not to covet anything of anyone, not to bear a grudge, love your fellow as ...
2
votes
2answers
99 views
Correspondence between 365 negative commandments and days of the year?
There are 365 negative commandments which correspond to the days of the (solar) year (see Makos 23b; Tanchuma Ki Seitzeh 2). Apparently the prohibition of Gid HaNasheh (sciatic nerve) corresponds to ...
3
votes
3answers
175 views
Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Does Hashem benefit from mankind doing the commandments of the Torah?
3
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0answers
52 views
Understanding hachnasas orchim
Is hachnasas orchim (welcoming guests) a mitzvah (either of biblical or rabbinic origin)? If not why is it considered more important than greeting the divine presence (bereshis 18:3 Rashi)? Does it ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Mamzer honoring his father - why wouldn't he?
The Shulhan 'Aruch (240:18) writes that a Mamzer has an obligation to honor his father.
Why might I think otherwise?
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Honoring a wicked father who has repented - How is he still considered wicked?
The Shulhan 'Aruch (Y"D 240:18) writes that one is obligated to honor his father even if the father is wicked (actually, it says that a Mamzer is obligated, but I believe that the implication is that ...
2
votes
4answers
199 views
How can we know God?
How can we know God? Isn't God unknowable? We learn and study and follow God's commands and pray, but how do we know God (as opposed to what God wants)?
What is a true way to know GOD better? ...
5
votes
1answer
69 views
Is there an imperative to have a fancy menorah?
Is it considered a meritorious practice to have a fancy/expensive/large menorah? Normally the imperative to beautify mitzvos is related to the mitzvah item itself (e.g. talis, tefillin, esrog), so ...
4
votes
0answers
53 views
Are you yotzei by lighting candles through a grama?
Does one fulfill the mitzvah of lighting candles (sabbath or chanukah) if done by a grama (indirect action)? Example
3
votes
2answers
141 views
Did Yitzchak not Fulfill the Mitzvah of “Be Fruitful and Multiply”?
According to the understanding of many commentators "pru u'revu" (be fruitful and multiply) is a positive commandment which is not fulfilled unless a man has both a son and daughter as offspring. ...
6
votes
2answers
73 views
Why did Avraham ask Eliezer to swear in the way he did?
Avraham asks his servant Eliezer to place his hand under his thigh to swear an oath regarding finding a daughter for his son. Chazal explain that he asked him to hold his (Avraham's) milah (male ...
6
votes
2answers
111 views
Does the mitzvah to return a lost object apply to aveirah items?
I recently saw a flyer that quoted from R' Chaim Kanievsky, Shlita as saying that if one find a smartphone that is not "kosher" there is no mitzvah obligation to return it. Is this in fact the ...
6
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0answers
51 views
What is the correct kavanah when going to war?
I am specifically talking about going to war that is a mitzvah such as the wars fought while conquering Eretz Yisroel in the beginning of the Neviim and the mitzvah we have and will fulfill of ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Dedicating a Mitzva to unborn child
Can a Mitzva be done on behalf of an child still in the womb?
I.e can I do a donation to a charity in my name, my wife's and my soon to be +1?
If so, in what name would that mitzva be done in as +1 ...
1
vote
0answers
65 views
What if there is no object for use in a mitzva?
There is a story I once heard about the Ben Ish Chai examining the only known etrog available in Iraq. Despite the great need for it, he declared the etrog passul for use and no one could fulfill the ...
5
votes
0answers
153 views
If a person isn't sure he is Jewish, does he have to keep Mitzvot?
Let's say that a person has a reason to think his mother might be Jewish (there is some evidence, but only a little), and it is likely that the person will never be able to know for sure. In such a ...
7
votes
3answers
206 views
Is 'simcha' a mitzvah?
"Mitzvah gedola le'heyos be'simcha..." many of us have heard this. I am wondering if there is an actual mitzvah to be be'simcha? (I am looking for sourced comments and not just idea's).
I know that ...
12
votes
2answers
151 views
Why isn't Peru URvu one of the 7 Noahide Laws?
The commandment to "Be fruitful and multiply" was given to Adam HaRishon. Why, then, is this not included in the Sheva' Mitzvoth Bnei Noaḥ?
4
votes
1answer
162 views
sperm donation and p'ru ur'vu
Does donating sperm to a woman who is not your wife (who then goes on to bear children from it) fulfill the mitzvah of p'ru ur'vu?
Alternatively, is it a violation of halakha? Does it matter whose ...
6
votes
1answer
72 views
If a father has to carry his sons aveiros why not his mitzvos?
If a father must carry the sins & punishments of his son (under bar mitzva) as we know he does from the brocha of "Baruch Shepatrani Meonshin shel zeh" does he — and if not, why doesn't he — ...
8
votes
1answer
150 views
Differences between RaMbaM and RaMbaN's mitzvah count
I know both of the Rambam and Ramban listed all 613 mitzvos, and they differ in some (I think like 16ish?)
What are the ones upon which they differ? If possible please include why they differ in ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Sha'atnez and small children
I was sent an email today alerting my community that Sha'atnez has been discovered in a line of baby pants. A quick internet search turned up other baby clothing that has been discovered to have ...
12
votes
2answers
462 views
Can a non-Jew don tefillin?
May a non-Jew or a person who is in the conversion process don tefillin? If not, what are the reasons that they cannot?
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Killing all of 'Amalek - Mitzvah or Reshuth?
This may be two questions that are closely related.
Would engaging in war with 'Amalek without a specific command (a la Shaul) be a Milhemeth Mitzvah or Milhemeth Reshuth?
Is killing all of 'Amalek ...
2
votes
2answers
78 views
VeNiShmartem - Positive or Negative?
VeNiShmartem Meod LeNafshotheichem (Devarim 4:15), the Mitzvah of self-preservation - requiring that we guard our health - sounds rather proactive. However, it is written with the word ShMR, to ...
8
votes
2answers
85 views
Is it still tzedakah if it is returned?
If a poor person asks for charity and I give some money to that person, but he then returns it to me, (because he doesn't feel it is enough, or any other reason) have I accomplished the mitzvah of ...
5
votes
1answer
114 views
Where can one get the Pri Yitzchak, a text discussing the 613 Mitzvot
Regarding the Chassidic text written in 1840 entiled Pri Yitzchak that details all 613 Mitzvot and the corresponding 248 limbs for positive mitzvot and 365 sinews for negative commandments.
My Rabbi ...
3
votes
0answers
69 views
Why kiss Tzitzith?
Why do we kiss Tzitzith when making the Birchath HaMitzvah, reciting Shema', and after Baruch SheAmar (at least acc. to Minhag Ashkenaz)?
An acceptable answer (for my purposes) would either
a. ...
7
votes
2answers
127 views
Why do different people have different levels of mitzvah obligation?
If the point of giving us mitzvot is to allow us to earn a reward in olam haba and to perfect creation (there's all of Jewish philosophy boiled down into 102 characters), why wouldn't all Jewish ...
10
votes
3answers
256 views
Are there required “ritual/daily” prayers in Judaism?
I have a question about the daily prayers of Judaism. I noticed on my trip to Jerusalem that a lot of those practicing Judaism got up at a certain time in the morning on the plane and faced a wall and ...
2
votes
2answers
164 views
Upper limits of “kovea itim”
It is known from the gemara (Shabbos 31a and cited in maamar Toras HaBayis ch. 1, among other places) that when a person dies, he is asked if he had set times for learning. I know that these times can ...
5
votes
1answer
46 views
What is the source for Mesirath Nefesh being a virtue?
Mesirath Nefesh is widely considered a virtue. It is treated by Musar-givers throughout the world as though it is the most important virtue after fear of Heaven. But what is it based on? There are ...
