Questions tagged [mitzvah]
Mitzvah - commandment. This tag is for questions about the nature of commandments or the status of being a commandment. (However, many particular commandments have their own tags.)
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Why in Deuteronomy does Moses introduce 200 new Mitzvot?
The Book of Numbers concludes the Torah narrative from the creation, through the Exodus, the Receiving of the Torah, the 40 years of the wilderness to make the Exodus generation go extinct, up to the ...
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Limud HaTorah in Mitzrayim
The Satmar Rav in Divrei Yoel (Parshas Vayigash, p. 480; left column) explains how Yaakov Avinu and his family were, halachically, able to leave Eretz Yisroel and settle in Mitzrayim although it is ...
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What are the 270 mitzvot relevant today?
It says in this post
that, by some calculation, it was figured that 270 Mitzvot are observable today. Does anyone have a list of these 270 Mitzvot?
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Why there's no yearly Biblical commemoration for Matan Torah?
In the Torah, Exodus is a serious event that must be remembered and celebrated the same week every year. Multiple Biblical Mitzvos aim at remembering and enacting the event, such as retelling the ...
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Why is "וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ" not a standalone verse and preceded by "לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר"?
In Lev 19.18: "לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר ... וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ",
Why "love thy fellow" is an "aftermath", an "elaboration" on "don't avenge or ...
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Why "do not avenge" applies to "[all] members of your people" but "love" only to "thy neighbor"?
In Lev 19:18:
לֹא־תִקֹּם וְלֹא־תִטֹּר אֶת־בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ אֲנִי יְהוָה׃
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people.
Love your fellow as ...
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Why the Har Sinai revelation only included commandments?
During the Har Sinai revelation, God spoke to the nation only the Ten Commandments. He could, for example, give a very different speech, for example, include theology, as He did with Job (38.1):
&...
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Why isn’t ‘Zechor yemot olam…’ a mitzvah?
In Parshas Haazinu (32:7) we are told:
זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ זְקֵנֶיךָ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָךְ׃
Remember the days of old consider the years of many ...
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What mitzvos did Moshe Rabbeinu want to fulfill in Eretz Yisrael?
The Gemara Sotah (14a) writes:
דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי: מִפְּנֵי מָה נִתְאַוָּה מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ
לִיכָּנֵס לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל? וְכִי לֶאֱכוֹל מִפִּרְיָהּ הוּא
צָרִיךְ?! אוֹ לִשְׂבּוֹעַ מִטּוּבָהּ ...
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Tefillin with runny nose
Can one put on tefillin when he is mildly sick, and might need to cough or blow his nose while wearing them, assuming he is able to keep his mind focused otherwise?
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Responsibility before commandments?
The Midrash has Moses make the argument that God should not punish the Israelites for the Golden Calf, because He never told them not to engage in idolatry:
[Moses] said in front of [God]: Master of ...
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How much must one do to fulfill the mitzvah of bikur cholim?
In Ahavas Chesed Chelek Gimmel Perek Beis, the Chofetz Chaim discusses the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim and how people בעוונותינו הרבים העולם מקלין במצוה זו.
He also writes there that:
מצות ביקור חולים אין ...
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Walking someone out 4 amos
The Chofetz Chaim in Ahavas Chesed Chelek Gimmel Chapter Beis talks about the importance and the Mitzvah to escort a guest, the Chofetz Chaim gives several opinions as to how far one must escort, for ...
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How does one unify Him as a constant mitzvah?
This is taken from another question:
In the introduction to Sefer HaChinuch, the author delineates what he feels are six constant mitzvos from the 613.
מששה מצות מהן שחיובן תמידי לא יפסק מעל האדם ...
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Using leftover etrogim to make kiddush/havdalah wine
The Talmud/Gemara in Shabbat 117b records a principle of using a mitzvah object for another mitzvah. Would using a leftover etrog or etrogim from Sukkot to make wine for kiddush/havdalah for Shabbat ...
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Source for One who is occupied with a mitzvah is exempt from [another] mitzvah
A halachic principle is:
עוסק במצוה פטור מן המצוה
One who is occupied with a mitzvah is exempt from [another] mitzvah.
Where in the Sources is this principle expressed in these exact words?
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Can one do an issur derabanan so that his friend can do a mitzva doraisa
There’s a rule not to do an aveira to benefit another but would it apply in a scenario where the purpose of performing an issur derabanan is to enable another person to perform a mitzva doraisa.
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Need the "how" steps to ask legitimate non-judgemental regarding issues needing resolution to inspire peaceful negotiation
Children are expected to ask questions. Jewish people are supposed to answer those who ask regardless of their knowledge/upbringing - i.e., the four sons represented in the Haggadah. In order to ...
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Question about ‘chazak ve-emotz’
Shalom.
I am aware this is a stupid question, but is ‘chazak ve-emotz’ - Be strong and of a good courage
in doing mitzvot a general commandment, given to all, or was it only for Yehoshua Ha-Navi?
...
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Is there a mitzvah of Kavod Yom Kippur
According to Halacha, is there a mitzvah of Kavod Yom Kippur or no? On the one hand, it is a day of affliction, so the usual mitzvah of Oneg with regards to nice food etc. is not there, but is there ...
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Do we get constant schar for not violating Lavs?
We have 365 Lo Taaseh’s in the Torah, like “don’t steal” or “don’t kill.” These tell us it’s a mitzvah not to do X. So if I’m just sitting in my chair now not violating any of these Lavs, do I get ...
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Is there a blessing for boring the ear of a slave?
In Shemot 21:6 the Torah states the commandment of God
וְהִגִּישׁוֹ אֲדֹנָיו אֶל־הָאֱלֹקים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ אֶל־הַדֶּלֶת אוֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָה וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו אֶת־אׇזְנוֹ בַּמַּרְצֵעַ וַעֲבָדוֹ לְעֹלָם׃ {ס}...
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Do walk-in closets need a mezuzah
According to the Halacha, do walk-in closets need a mezuzah? Or no, since they are not regularly lived in are they exempt from having a mezuzah?
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The reward of rain
The Torah and other Sources quote God many times as saying:
If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield its ...
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Does bikur cholim apply to a non-Jew?
Does visiting non-Jewish sick fulfill the mitzvah? Or is it only for Jews?
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Which Mitzva has the most Halachot?
In the spirit of this question, which Mitzva has the most halachot? If it is hard to pick one, happy to hear about a "top 5" etc.
E.g.
It is hard to measure which Mitzva has the most ...
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Is Mitzvat Kibbud Horim (respecting parents) on the Gavra (personal) or can it be delegated?
Is the matter of Mitzvah Kibbud Horim (respecting parents) a matter of the son towards his parents? Or if it is possible to send the grandson who is younger, more enthusiastic to help the grandfather ...
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Can left handed people place a mezuzah on left side of doors
The basic halacha is that a mezuzah should be placed on the right side of the door. My question is, if a person is left handed is it permissible for them to attach it to the left side of the door? Or ...
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If Jews make an oath to not do mitzvot which are normally required after an action, is it binding
Inspired by the answer to this question, is it valid for Jews to
Make an oath to prevent themselves from performing mitzvoth which proceed from their choices, for example vowing to not do ...
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Can someone else put tefillin on a Jew
According to Halacha, Is the actual mitzvah of tefillin on having it on your body or placing it on your body? The reason I ask is because if it’s the former, you could sit still and have someone else ...
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How many times was the mitzvah of " עָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ - Make for me a Sanctuary" fulfilled?
In a sefer Haycha Timtzah, which received Haskamos from the likes of HaRav Moshe Feinstein, he asks the following riddle.
Riddle: Where do we find one of the 613 Mitzvos that was fulfilled only 6 ...
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Torah source for lighting Shabbat candles
What is the written Torah source requiring Jews (and/or specifically Jewish women) to light Shabbat candles just before Shabbat begins?
My understanding is that mitzvot may only come from the written ...
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ואהבת לרעך כמוך - Commandement to express an emotion?
Where can I find discussions on the topic of ואהבת לרעך כמוך being a commandment to express and feel an emotion.
The underlying question is, How can we be commanded to feel a certain way? (This is ...
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Heter for only doing birkat kohanim on Yom Tov
There is a minhag, a predominantly ashkenazc diaspora one, to only do Birkat Kohanim on Yom Tov. My question is what is the Heter for this? There is a general principle we don’t pass up mitzvot when ...
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Minchas Chinuch - Kuntres Bnei Noach ,is it available or lost?
This shabbos I came across a reference to a Kuntres bnei Noach in the Minchas Chinuch Parshas Mishpatim on the mitzvah of Dini geneiva. Has anyone seen this kuntres anywhere ,is it available, is it ...
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Each word of Torah is its own mitzvah for gentiles?
This is a quote from an article I read on torchweb.org
"The Vilna Gaon in Shenos Eliyahu explains that each and every word of Torah that we study is its own separate mitzvah with its own separate ...
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Is onaah prohibited for mitzvah items
According to Halacha, Jews should not overcharge significantly when selling items (Onaah) on the principle it’s bad to price higher than a product’s value. However, there are statements throughout ...
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Are the lost tribes of Israel still obligated to this day to keep the 613 mitzvot?
We know that all 12 tribes of Israel (The tribe of Benjamin and Judah plus the 10 lost tribes) were given the Torah at Mount Sinai. And we know that since the destruction of the first temple all ...
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How To Remember The שבע מצוות בני נח?
I once heard an easy way to remember the שבע מצוות בני נח:
א = אבר מו החי
ב = ברכת השם
ג = גזל
ד = דינים
ה = הרג
ו = גילוי עריות
ז = עבודה זרה
I am not sure if I am remembering ג ו & ז right - I ...
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Is hitbodedut considered a mitzvah?
Do personal prayers to Hashem (hitbodedut) fulfill a mitzvah? It would be a great incentive for me to pray more.
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Commandments for gentiles
Would everyone (Jew and gentile alike) benefit by following these commanments?
To know there is a G‑d—Exodus 20:2
Not to entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him—Exodus 20:3
To know that He is ...
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Do tefillin straps have to be animal skin
In Halacha, is there a requirement for the straps made for tefillin to be made out of animal skin such as leather, or no? If there is a requirement, is it Derabbanan, or a Halacha LeMoshe Misinai? Or ...
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How is simchah (joy/enthusiasm) attained?
I want to perform mitzvah's with Simchah. I do what I'm supposed to do out of obligation whether I want to or not but the problem is sometimes I feel tired or I feel lazy (especially when someone ...
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Should gentiles follow more than just seven Noahide laws?
I know that gentiles must follow the 7 Noahide laws. But are there any other moral principles branching out from these that are highly recommended for everyone to follow?
In totality, when completely ...
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Minor as a mohel
According to Halacha, is it permissible for a minor (under bar mitzvah) to serve as a mohel and do Brit Milah? What about B’dieved? The reason I ask is because some Poskim hold a woman can serve as ...
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Why does Rambam learn the prohibition for adultery from Parashat Acharei Mot and not Yitro?
Yitro contains 16 mitzvos according to Rambam. Most of them are linked to the 10 commandments but notably one commandment is missing: adultery.
Instead he learns this prohibition from Acharei Mot:
...
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I want to study all 613 Mitzvot in depth. Can someone recommend a good book for me to read dedicated to that topic?
Other than the Mishnah and the Talmud , are there any books that give in-depth commentary, explanation, and context for each and every mitzvot? I'm only referring to books soley focused on the topic ...
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When is one exempt from liability when performing a mitzvah
In the Talmud in tractate Bava Kamma 62b a store owner isn’t liable for placing a Hanukkah candle outside, even if it Causes damage to a camel. My question is, does this principle of exemption from ...
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Will the Torah you did learn save you from the Torah you didn't?
On the one hand:
Torah study protects forever, in this life, in death, and in the resurrection of the dead. (Sotah 5b, paraphrased)
Rabbi Shimon Ben Lakish said: Troubles are removed from all those ...
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Is there obligation to invite people to Seudat nissuin
According to Halacha, is there an obligation for a husband and/or groom to invite others to a Seudat Nissuin? Or are they free to not invite anyone else to the festive meal after the wedding?
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