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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Milchemes mitzvah in Shoftim according to Rambam
According to the Rambam that you need a Melech for a milchemes mitzvah, how does the Rambam understand all the milchamos in the book of Shoftim?
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Which of the Mizvot are the most complicated to adhere to in the modern USA? [closed]
Which of the Mitzvot are the most complicated/difficult to adhere to in the modern USA?
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What do the concepts "worlds" "souls" and "Divinity" mean in Chassidus? [closed]
BH
What do the concepts "worlds" "souls" and "Divinity" mean in Chassidus? I have seen these in different places, together main question is from this book in the picture.
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Netilat Yadayim with public water fountain
If there is a publicly owned water source that everyone uses (like a public fountain of water), is there an issue with using it for Netilat Yadayim? In this case the liquid is clean. Would it be an ...
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Is the war to protect the State of Israel from attacks from terrrorists a Milchemes Mitzvah
The Rambam in Malochim 5:1 says that one of the cases of Milchemes Mitzvah is coming to the aid of Jews being attacked by an enemy.
Does that mean that the war in Gaza (declared on 07/10/2023) is a ...
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In a mixed marriage is the Issur also on the Non-Jew?
As far as I know I have not seen in the 7 laws of Bnei Noach that they have "Lifnei Iver"
Now of course a Jew cannot marry a Non-Jew. But is the Non-Jew in question also considered a Rasha?
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Should Hamas be treated like Amalek?
Do we say that Hamas's behaviour recently is as bad as Amalek, and therefore we have a mitzvah to completely eradicate them? If so, does that stretch to the whole of Gaza's population or even further?
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Why is tzitzis treated as an obligation
Following up on the question asked here: Why do people feel that there is a NEED to wear tzitzit?
It seems like the answer is that we wear it to remind us about all the mitzvos.
First of all, what is ...
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Aser titasher Talmud bavli Taanith 9a-b
As for the advice to give maaser kesafim, מעשׁר כספים to become rich:
Talmud Bavli Taánith 9a-b
עַשֵּׂ֣ר תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר becomes תִּתְעַשֵּׁר עַשֵּׂ֣ר.
Why does the Talmud uses ithpael ThiTh’ASheeR in ...
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Percentage of SA halacha per Mitzva breakdown?
Is there a study or depiction (similar to the visualisations at Sefaria, although doesn't have to be a visualisation) that takes the whole of the Shulchan Aruch and traces every single halacha back ...
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The Baal Shem Tov: mitzvos as a gift
I've heard in the name of the Baal Shem Tov, that G-d was wondering what to give the Jewish people in order to perfect themselves. The endresult.... mitzvos, all 613 of them.
G-d gave us the Torah and ...
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Are non-Jews rewarded for following the Torah?
Obviously a non-Jew cannot keep Shabbos but what if, for example, they wanted to keep kosher and say brachos on food? Are they rewarded?
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Why did the Rambam single out Ribui?
In Sefer HaMitzvos, Shoresh 2, the Rambam says that anything derived using Rabbi Yishmael's 13 principles of derivation, or a Ribui (extraneous wording which tells us to include new laws), does not ...
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Sefer HaMitzvot and Sefer HaChinuch: Which should I study?
I want to study the 613 Mitzvot, and I was told about both the Sefer HaChinuch and Sefer HaMitzvot and I'm not sure which one to learn from. So, what's the difference? Do they include the exact same ...
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What Mitzvot Can A Non-Jew Not Keep? [duplicate]
What commandments, including any minhagim and the like, are Non-Jews ABSOLUTELY forbidden from keeping (in its entirety)?
A famous one is the prohibition of keeping Shabbat, EVEN for a a Non-Jew that ...
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Temurah and Mitzvah HaBah B'Averirah
Masechet Temurah discusses what happens if one makes a temurah -- attempting to designate a replacement for a dedicated offering. Though this is not allowed, the kedushah of the original does (in many ...
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How important is hygiene beyond required washing and mikvah immersion to Jews?
I know that mikvah immersion and ritual washing is required, but what about other bodily hygiene, shaving, teeth, house order, hair and all other hygienically addressable aspects of a modern human?
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613 Mitzvot corresponding to the 248 and 365 body parts [duplicate]
Where can I find a chart or list in English of each mitzvah and which body part the mitzvah corresponds to including bones and organs?
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Was Mordechai mekayem "מְכַשֵּׁפָה לֹא תְחַיֶּה"?
Was Mordechai mekayem the mitzvah aseh of מְכַשֵּׁפָה לֹא תְחַיֶּה based off the understanding of the Ramban here that it is a mitzvah Aseh to kill a sorcerer.
Using the understanding that Haman was a ...
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Is a person obligated in a Mitzvah that he can only fulfill with assistance?
If a person is unable to perform a Mitzvah on his own - like putting on Tefillin, or holding/shaking the Lulav etc. - is there still a full fledged obligation for him to go through every kind of ...
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Mekayem mitzvah "zecher amalek" by hearing megillah?
By listening or reading the megillah is the mitzvah of zecher amalek being fulfilled?
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What is the true definition of tirtzach? [duplicate]
In Hebrew, the word tirtzach is normally translated to mean murder. In English, murder means unlawful premeditated killing. But if this is the definition of tirtzach, then the commandment lo tirtzach ...
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Finding a check made out to "Cash"
Is it permissible to cash a check that is found in the street, if the check is made out to "cash" and after attempting to locate an owner, none is found.
Would it be considered the same as ...
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Should one who is unable to do a mitzvah wish he was able to do it?
For example, should one who must go work to make a living wish he can stay and learn, or should he feel that this is the ultimate option that Hashem wants for him and there's no point to wish for ...
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When Moshaich comes, what will happen to halachot that are not d'oraita or rabbinic insight into Hashem's absolute Ratzon?
At some point after the Moshaich comes, we will famously no longer have a Yeitzer Hara (e.g. Sukkah 52a).
At that time, will we still need the fences Chazal put around the Torah? I don't just mean the ...
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2 mitzvot you do while sleeping
Recently heard the Vilna Gaon says we do 2 mitzvot while we’re sleeping, does anyone know what they are?
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What is Chazakah from 3 Times action [duplicate]
Hi I want to know what does it really mean a chazakah that gets formed after 3 actions and is it a sin of you don't do that same action the 4th time and what is the source of this law and how far does ...
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Mitzvos bein adam l'chavero vs. mitzvos bein adam l'makom
I'm wondering if there are any early sources that discuss the relative importance of mitzvos bein adam l'chavero and mitzvos bein adam l'makom. Eg, if one is in a position to only do one or the other, ...
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Is it really a Mitzvah to greet a fellow Jew?
I would think that it would be good middot to be a mentsch and ask a fellow Jew "hello, how are you?", but is there really any Mitzvah to it? Or does it count as a Chesed?
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Did Adam establish a justice system?
One of the mitzvot given to Adam was to establish laws and courts.
Was Adam successful in setting up a working justice system, and if so, do we know any practical details of how it operated and/or for ...
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Does it still count as a Bracha if one stuttered and repeated words?
What if someone has a stutter and they tend to repeat words when doing a Bracha. As long as they said all of the words, does it still count as a Bracha?
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Does one still get Schar for trying to do a Mitzvah even if they didn’t end up doing it properly?
Presumably a person would still get some Schar for putting in the effort for doing a Mitzvah even if they didn’t end up doing it properly, right? Lfum Tzaarah Agra?
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Does one still fulfill the Mitzvah of Tzitzit even if one didn’t make a Bracha on it? [duplicate]
Is it true that a person still fulfills the Mitzvah of Tzitzit even if they don’t say the Bracha for it? And that would apply to other Mitzvot, such as Tefillin, correct?
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Is it a Mitzvah to tell a fellow Jew “have a wonderful day”?
Is it considered a Mitzvah/Chesed to tell a fellow Jew to have a great day? It sounds like a simple thing, but I thought it would be included under Viohavta Lireiacha Kamocha, no?
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How can Chachamim put price tags on mitzvot?
The Gemera in Chullin 87a (and see Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 382:1) that one who steals another persons mitzvah must give the person from who he stole 10 zehuvim. My question is, how can Chachmim ...
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Whats the reasoning behind יין פגום?
There is an halacha called יין פגום (mentioned in Pesachim 106a and Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 182) where if I drank a cup of wine for Kiddush or Birkat Hamazon and didn't finish all of it, I ...
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Netilat Yadaim Source
Where in tanach is the mitzvah of Netilat Yadaim shown / present?
I am essentially asking for the source of the mitzvah.
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Why only seven rabbinic commandments?
Traditionally, there are seven rabbinic commandments to be added to the 613 in the Torah: Hallel, Purim, Hanukkah, Eruv, washing hands, lighting Shabbat candles, and saying blessings.
But there are ...
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Mitzva Dream Team: the minimum number of individuals who, between them, can keep all 613 mitzvot
A classic Mi Yodeya question, perhaps a little more light-hearted in the spirit of Purim-
What's the minimum number of Jews we need to cover all 613 Mitzvot between them? If we just have a Yisrael, we ...
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Mitzvot that regulate undesirable practices and behaviour, designed to bring a gradual end to them - sources for this general idea?
Slavery is bad, but Hashem didn't ban it, He regulated it (see start of Parshat Mishpatim).
Killing our own children is bad, but Hashem didn't ban it, He regulated it (Ben Sorer Umoreh, Ki Tetze).
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Is it mandated that a gentile get stoned for having strived to understand the Noahide laws in the way and with the intent explained below?
For Noahides to understand the Noahide laws effectively and to understand what is the ideal and right way to take as a non-Jew not converted, it is necessary for him to study more than just the list ...
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Bracha on Kiddush Hachodesh
Did the beit din make a bracha each month on the mitzvah of kiddush hachodesh in the times of the Sanhedrin? If yes, what was the language of the bracha?
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Bracha on Unloading and raising up animals
Does one make a bracha over the mitzvot of unloading an exhausted animal, or raising up a collapsed animal?
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Bracha over searching kosher signs
Is there a bracha that is made over searching the kosher signs of animals, whether animals, birds or fish - given that the Rambam lists these as individual mitzvot.
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What is the Jewish tradition of writing Torah scroll?
I am trying to learn more about the tradition of rewriting the Torah.
Torah Robot by Matthias Gommel was displayed at the Jewish Museum in Berlin which I visited in 2015. The robot walks across the ...
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Solomon made a wonderful and magnificent throne to honor G-d. then why did King Solomon go against what G-D said (the limit of wives and horses)?
King Solomon wrote Kohelet which is about how material things aren't coming with you to the afterlife. and having material wealth isn't a great accomplishment. Yet he was a Ruler that had a legendary ...
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Brachos on mitzvos no longer practiced [closed]
I am currently working on a project devising a list of all Brachot ever made in the history of yiddishkeit. So far I have 198, based on prevalent practice today as well as various poskim and, gemara, ...
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Which mitzvot if any can be done passively
Are there any mitzvot that can be done completely passively? I'm wondering which mitzvot, if any, babies or people with physical and mental disabilities can fulfill. One that comes to mind is dwelling ...
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What commandments can a gentile take on?
I'm currently a gentile who believes that Judaism is true. I understand that I don't need to be Jewish to share in the world to come, and I understand that being a Noahide is much easier, however, it ...
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Is making etrog jelly an acceptable use for an etrog?
I recall reading that when one is done with his lulav, he should save it and use it for another mitzvah (such burning chameitz) because once something has been used for a mitzvah it should be used for ...
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