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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What is the source for Bitachon in the Torah?
The Chovos Halevovos's fourth שער, section, is on Bitachon. Since his sefer is "Duties of the heart", he clearly considers this a required "duty". Unlike some other areas, he does ...
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Mitzvah and connection. How does that work?
When one does good deeds, is he then connected to goodness? Do the actions draw blessing into one’s life?
How does the connection between Mitzvot and goodness work?
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Did Avraham Avinu daven all the tefilos or just Shacharis?
We learn (Brachot 26b):
תניא כוותיה דרבי יוסי בר' חנינא אברהם תקן תפלת שחרית שנא' וישכם אברהם בבקר אל המקום אשר עמד שם ... יצחק תקן תפלת מנחה שנאמר ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה לפנות ערב ואין שיחה אלא תפלה ....
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To serve, the biggest command?
Looking at the basis for our covenant with G-d, I noticed G-d said to Avraham (Bereshit 17:1): “Walk before Me”, which is sometimes understood to mean: “Serve Me”. And also (Bereshit 17:9): “You shall ...
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How could the patriarchs have observed the ritual commandments?
The Sources says that the patriarchs and those they taught followed halacha.¹
There are two types of commandments: Ethical and ritual. I understand that the ethical commandments could have been ...
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Status of "extra" mitzvot
When the Jews are exiled to Babel, God commands Jeremiah to tell the Jews some instructions regarding their behavior in exile (Jeremiah 29:4-9):
"Thus said GOD of Hosts, the God of Israel, to ...
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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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Din versus Mitzvah [closed]
How would you describe the difference between mitzvos and dinim?
How would you describe the difference between halachah and dinim?
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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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Minchas Chinuch - Kuntres Bnei Noach: 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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Definition and origin of the division between interpersonal and God-related Mitzvot
"...for transgressions between a person and God, Yom Kippur atones; however, for transgressions between a person and another, Yom Kippur does not atone until he appeases the other person." ...
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Women - less Mitzvot more body parts?
According to the Gemmorah sources:
Women have much less positive Mitzvot than men, as they are freed from most of the time-related Mitzvot (Mishna Kiddushin 1:7).
Women have more body parts than men,...
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(When) is it an aveirah to NOT do a mitzvas asei?
I have heard conflicting opinions about not doing a mitzvas asei. Some seem to hold that one just misses out by not doing one, while others seem to class it as an aveirah to not do the mitzvah. Given ...
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Reincarnations - Let's work out how many one would need to be personally obligated in all 613 Mitzvot in the superset
In a nutshell, the Arizal says (Shaar Gilgulim Ch. 16) we are reincarnated in order that every Jew gets a chance to experience all 613 mitzvot as a chiyuv (personal obligation) at least once. My ...
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Why "tilling and tending" of Eden are not considered commandments?
"God settled the Human in the garden of Eden, to til it and tend it." That preceded his introduction to its plants and trees and the commandments to withdraw from eating from them.
Was Adam ...
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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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What is the Mitzvah of Ben Sorer uMore (rebellious son) about?
Here's a short recap on the Ben SU"M (דברים כ"א י"ח) Mitzvah order:
A boy does not listen (rebels against) to his parents in general (no details on how exactly)
He steals his father's ...
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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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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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Is it achievable to keep all of Halacha?
There is a principle that the Torah doesn't ask us to do anything that is unreasonable/unachievable (see here). Surely that means that we don't have any excuse to say "this is too much for me&...
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Our relationship with Hashem
Avos states, "Do not be as servants who are serving the master in order to receive a reward, rather be as servants who are serving the master not in order to receive a reward."
Yet, Mesillas Yesharim ...
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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 "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 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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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 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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Loss of not making a bracha on a mitzva
Berachot 35b:
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Anyone who derives benefit from this world without a blessing, it is as if he stole from God and the community of Israel
This is commonly applied to the ...
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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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Source for Geonic division of mitzvos
The Rambam and those who follow suit divide the 613 mitzvos into two groups, 248 positive mitzvos and 365 negative mitzvos. This is sourced from Makkos 23b.
However, many of the Geonim (for example: ...
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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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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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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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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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Was the Beis HaMakidash the central part of Judaism?
Much of what defines Judaism nowadays are the mitzvas that we keep and practice (aside from those connected to the Beis HaMikdash), Torah-study, and prayer. Each of these things have their set time ...
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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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Are there any brachos for "touching" something?
4 of the 5 senses explicitly have berachos:
Taste- Shehakol food, blessings on fruits & vegetables etc (see: OC 202-207)
Smell- Pleasant fragrances (OC 216)
Hearing- Thunder (MB 227:5)
Seeing-...
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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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Differences between RaMbaM and RaMbaN's mitzvah count
I know both the Rambam and Ramban listed all of the 613 mitzvos, and that they differ in some (I think like 16ish?)
What are the ones upon which they differ? If possible please include why they differ ...
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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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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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Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Does Hashem benefit from mankind doing the commandments of the Torah?
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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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Examples of forbidden behaviors for Jews permitted toward gentiles
I heard that there are Mitzvos that forbid certain behaviors toward fellow Jews but allow or prescribe those very behaviors toward gentiles.
What are some examples of such Mitzvos?
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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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