The mitzvah tag has no wiki summary.
10
votes
3answers
177 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
43 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
104 views
Why are there no special mitzvahs of Shavuos
Why is there no Mitzvas Hayom on Shavuos (For example, on Sukkos there is a commandment of shaking the Lulav, on Rosh Hashanh one must blow the Shofar, on Purim one must read the Meggilah, on Chanukah ...
4
votes
3answers
115 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
66 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
42 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
74 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
vote
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?
0
votes
0answers
58 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 ...
9
votes
3answers
124 views
What is the source for the mitzvah of kiruv?
Is kiruv a mitzvah?
Is it biblical or rabbinic?
Is there any reason it should supersede other mitzvot?
what are the sources in chazal and halacha relating to kiruv?
related: Kiruv and halachik ...
3
votes
1answer
62 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
70 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
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 ...
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
50 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
96 views
Matzah Shemurah on the 8th day of Pesaḥ (in the Diaspora)
According to those who hold that there is a Kiyyum Mitzvath 'Aseh DeOraitha (a fulfillment of a positive Biblical commandment) every time one eats a KeZayith (olive size's worth) of Matzah on Pesaḥ, ...
12
votes
2answers
468 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?
1
vote
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 ...
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?
2
votes
2answers
100 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
41 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
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? ...
3
votes
3answers
176 views
Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Does Hashem benefit from mankind doing the commandments of the Torah?
14
votes
4answers
716 views
Is there a list of Mitzvot and their corresponding body parts?
The Talmud (Makkot 23B)and the Zohar (1:170B - unverified English translation here) say that the 248 positive commandments correspond to the 248 limbs of the human body. (The Mishna (Ohalot 1:8) lists ...
3
votes
0answers
53 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 ...
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 ...
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?
7
votes
3answers
207 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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
427 views
How many of the 613 Mitzvos are we able to do currently?
There are many Mitzvos we can not do in today's generation. For example there are no Korbonos, no slaves, etc.
Per the Chofetz Chaim, there are 77 positive Mitzvos and 194 negative Mitzvos which can ...
6
votes
2answers
93 views
Sell the shirt off his back for Menorah, but not for anything else?
Halacha brings that one who has no money for Chanukah Lights must sell the shirt off his back to acquire them why is this the case versus almost all other Mitzvos which require up to a fifth of his ...
11
votes
6answers
449 views
Avot keeping Mitzvot
How are we to understand the tradition that the patriarchs kept all of the mitzvot in the Torah (see for example the last mishna in Kidushin, Rashi Bereshit 32:5, etc.) in light of the many obvious ...
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
113 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
votes
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
54 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
4answers
851 views
If masturbation is so bad, why is it not in list of 613 Mitzvos?
If masturbation is, as stated in the Shulchan Oruch (Even HaEzer 23:1), "the worst sin in the Torah", then why is it not listed in any of the various lists of 613 Mitzvos and why is there no verse in ...
9
votes
2answers
162 views
Eating outside of a Sukkah - Negative or Positive commandment?
On Sukkoth we are required to dwell in a Sukkah, which is generally minimally defined as at least eating our meals (which in turn is generally minimally defined as grain-based products) inside the ...
11
votes
3answers
218 views
Do people have an effect on the mood of God?
If a person commits idolatry or fornication he is sinful. Not only that, but the curse of Hashem is with that person. On the other hand, if a person does a lot of mitswots (commandments) and believes ...
4
votes
1answer
89 views
Matzah the entire week
Is it the Vilna Gaon who maintains that it is a mitzvah to eat matzah (to eat matzah, in addition to abstaining from chametz) every day and night during the week of Passover, or somebody else? The ...
4
votes
4answers
198 views
4
votes
1answer
164 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 ...
