Questions tagged [taamei-mitzvot-reasons]
reasons (as best as we can understand them) for the Mitzvot/Commandments
8
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1answer
49 views
What was the significance of Pomegranates?
What was the significance of Pomegranates on the Kohen Gadol's "Me'il"?
Why specifically Pomegranates and not any other shape?
0
votes
1answer
83 views
Sources for scientific rationale for the 613 Mizvot?
Are there any published works on the scientific rationale for any of the 613 Mizvot?
For example: Handwashing: It only took the medical community did not deem it medically relevant until 2 centuries ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Why may a master torture his non-Jewish slave?
We’re commanded to be sensitive to a convert, as we know what it’s like to be in a foreign land (Shemos 23:9):
וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם ...
5
votes
1answer
41 views
Explain Rashi / Mechilta on Shemot 24:3
In Shemot 24:3, regarding the term mishpatim, Rash"i citing Mechilta includes a list of items. Among them, he includes parah adumah (the laws of the red heifer.)
This is puzzling. The beginning of ...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
Segula of Tefilin
I was looking for some ideas to inspire people to start putting on tefilin everyday.
What are the advantages and blessings for a person who dons tefilin?
2
votes
0answers
85 views
How could the law of marrying the rape victim ever be implemented?
I ask this in good faith as I am religious.
How is it possible for this situation to come about? If you claim the rapist must receive a punishment via the fines, then we know that at least two ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
Using the name יהוה [duplicate]
HaShem teaches Moshe the following in Shemot 3:15:
כֹּה-תֹאמַר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם; זֶה-שְּׁמִי ...
2
votes
0answers
21 views
The usage of the title HaShem instead of other titles [duplicate]
One doesn’t pronounce יהוה, but with so many titles to be found in the Tenach for referring to יהוה, why would we refer to Him as ‘HaShem’ then? Why not stick with Adonai, Anochi, El Shadai etc. like ...
5
votes
1answer
56 views
Passover Lamb: Why is the bone not broken?
The mitzvah in exodus 12:46: Why do we not break the bones of the Passover lamb? Is it because it was a pagan practice? or because of something else?
Ex. 12:46 It shall be eaten in one house; you ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Our relation 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
40 views
Why can't the Amida be repeated without a minyan?
If one purpose of the repetition of the Amida is to allow those who are not expert in prayer to be exempted of their obligation to pray (as per the Shulchan Aruch, O"C 124:1) why isn't this same ...
3
votes
2answers
200 views
The underlying reason for Shemitat Ksafim?
I've researched the topic for a while and I could not find a single interpreter discussing the reason (טעם המצווה) for canceling loans after the Shemitah Year.
I know it is a Machloket (see my ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
Why is sleep described as imprisonment?
Every night, we make the Berachah of המפיל חבלי שנה על עיני, Who causes the binds of sleep to fall on my eyes (Berachos 60b; SA OC 239:1), and in the morning, we make the Berachah of מתיר אסורים, Who ...
3
votes
1answer
56 views
Why do we wave the Lulav / etrog?
The mitzvah mentioned in the Torah just says to "take" 4 species. The Torah doesn't mention anything about waving them. The Talmud mentions waving them at certain points in Hallel, but there doesn't ...
1
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0answers
31 views
Why is the laining identical on the first 2 days of Sukkot?
The laining is chosen (on many holidays) to deal with the holiday, itself. As the Rambam explains,
וקוראין בעניין המועד, לא בסדר השבת. ומשה רבנו תיקן להן לישראל, שיהיו קוראין בכל מועד, עניינו; ...
-3
votes
2answers
92 views
How women's Ptur from time-related Mitzvot works?
THis is a follow-up question to the long-forgotten "why-are-women-exempt..." (2011).
What is the meaning of the word Patur (exempt) here - does it mean like דחויה or הותרה?
Were they obligated on Mt ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Why does water purify?
The Torah states that immersion in a mikveh of water purifies a person from Tuma (spiritual impurity). Why does water do this? Is there some kind of spiritual powers imbued in water?
Or is this just ...
1
vote
0answers
44 views
Reason why pressing on an animal throat is forbidden during shechitah
The Rambam writes (MT Shechita 3:1) about five factors that disqualify ritual slaughter (shechitah). One of them (3:11) is dirasah, pressing on animal throat (based on the gemara in Chulin 30b)
For ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Why is eating meat from living animals wrong?
Why is it wrong to eat meat from a living animal? Is it because it is cruel? Is it because it is impure? Why is it?
0
votes
1answer
45 views
Why are there degrees of impurity?
Why does the Torah outline many different degrees of impurity טומאה with different purification methods?
You have corpse-impurity which requires sprinkling with the water of the red heifer during a ...
5
votes
2answers
84 views
Why sprinkle on the third day?
Parshat Chukat describes the purifying ritual of the red heifer and records that one is impure for 7 days, but the process requires that one sprinkle on the third and seventh day. Aside from one ...
7
votes
1answer
76 views
Why is there no mitzvah for an individual to write his own mezuzah?
Ramba"m states that there is a mitzvah for every individual to write his own Torah. This mitzvah can be accomplished by writing one letter.
Why is there no mitvah for writing a mezuza. It seems that ...
4
votes
2answers
210 views
What are reasons of מצוות עונה marital sex?
Besides the reason of having children, are there other reasons to the מצוות עונה (marital sex)?
2
votes
2answers
105 views
What is the “good of marriage” in Jewish thought?
In Christian philosophy, many ancient philosophers such as Aquinas and Augustine speak about the "good of marriage." Marriage is "good", they argue, because it leads to offspring, chastity and ...
-4
votes
1answer
47 views
Why is the prohibition against one man murdering another considered a “mitzvah sichlis”, while fish and animals may prey on each other?
Why is The prohibition against one man murdering another [רציחה] considered a "mitzvah sichlis", a logically understood mitzvah, (as quoted in שמונה פרקים להרמב"ם פרק ו) while fish and animals may ...
1
vote
3answers
204 views
Why is the Tetragrammaton unutterable?
Why is it not allowed to pronounce God's four letter name ywvh? Is there a reason for this? Is it such a great taboo as to be unforgivable?
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Whats the point of the tzizit in back?
If tzizit are supposed to remind you of Hashem and the Mitzvoh whats the point of the tzizit in back? It's rare you see them at all even if you don't tuck them in.
1
vote
1answer
60 views
mitzvos and middos
i heard the idea that mitzvos are to improves character what is/are the source/s for this?
do others argue?
what i found is in the name of the Ramban
here and here
but were it the original Ramban? ...
6
votes
0answers
65 views
Why is it forbidden to eat after the Qorban Pesah?
The Mishnah (Pesahim 10:8) states (Hebrew, English):
אין מפטירין אחר הפסח אפיקומן
They may not add an afikoman after the Pesach offering.
The commentators (e.g. Bartenura) explain that this ...
10
votes
1answer
96 views
Other reasons to start teaching children with Vayikra
The Midrash (Tanchuma Tzav #14, Vayikra Rabbah 7:3) advises one to start teaching their children with parshas Vayikra, since the korbonos are pure, just like children are pure. This is brought by the ...
3
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0answers
44 views
What’s the reason behind having to use specifically animal skin for klaf?
What’s the reasoning behind the need to use animals per se as opposed to any other paperlike material for klaf (to write on)? Is there significance in the need to take the life of an animal for the ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Is scissors vs. straight blade really a significant difference? [duplicate]
While listening to a presentation being given by an orthodox Jew, he made a comment about shaving, and how he had to use an electric razor past a certain point on his face. It was just a ...
4
votes
0answers
177 views
Reason for prohibition of charging interest [duplicate]
The Torah says that charging interest on a loan to a Jew is prohibited, but to an idol worshipper it is permitted. My question is why? I can think of three possible answers:
1) There is a time value ...
2
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1answer
53 views
Why some Korbanot male while others are female?
Why do some korbanot need to be brought as male animals, and some as female animals?
3
votes
0answers
36 views
Is the Sefer Hachinuch actually about reasons for mitzvos?
(Inspired by the answers given by @רבות מחשבות and @mevaqesh to this question.)
When people speak about reasons for mitzvos they generally mean something along the lines of "God commanded us to do ...
0
votes
2answers
64 views
Resource on reasons/intention for mitzvot
I would like to know if there is a resource, preferably a book, that gives the reason/intention of specific mitzvot.
My question stems from a shiur i heard from rabbi akiva tatz. Where he said ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is alcohol not prohibited?
I came across a post on Mi Yodea about the Torah approach to alcohol and a lot of it seems pretty negative. For example, Brachot 40a - 'grapes cause sorrow to the world', Yoma 76 - wine is called יין ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is a Torah written by a woman not considered a kosher Torah?
My question is based on an earlier question in this community: Would a woman be permitted to write a sefer Torah?
Quoting one of the answers:
This scroll wouldn't fulfill the biblical commandments ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Why the 7 laws for Bnei Noach do not include Shabbat or the separation between clean/unclean animals [duplicate]
I would like to ask why the Bnei Noah are not required to keep shabbat whereas the Shabbat has been holy since the first week of creation and has been given to humanity not only to AM Ysrael?
In fact ...
4
votes
3answers
44 views
Why is Hakhel done specifically after the shemittah year is completed?
Devarim 31:10-12 mentions that at the end of shemittah (Sabbatical) year all of Israel should gather during the holiday of Succot to hear the Torah read.
I gather that the reason Succot is chosen is ...
4
votes
2answers
78 views
Is there any rabbinic commentary that explains why God commanded Moshe to write all the words of the Torah on stones instead of on animal parchment
Is there any rabbinic commentary that explains why God commanded Moshe to write all the words of the Torah on stones instead of on animal parchment?
Devorim 27 (8). Moshe is commanded:
“You shall ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Why may one not make a business out of hunting wild animals?
Sheviis 7:4:
צָדֵי חַיָּה עוֹפוֹת וְדָגִים שֶׁנִּזְדַּמְּנוּ לָהֶם מִינִים טְמֵאִין, מֻתָּרִים לְמָכְרָן. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, אַף מִי שֶׁנִּתְמַנָּה לוֹ לְפִי דַרְכּוֹ, לוֹקֵחַ וּמוֹכֵר, ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
stubbing your toe and peace with you wife, what is the connection
one of the reasons for lighting shabbos candles is "peace in the home"
shulchan aurch harav 263.1 explains "peace in the home" that not to stub you foot on wood or stone
the mishna torah megila 4:...
-1
votes
3answers
151 views
If the Torah tells us to love the stranger, וַאֲהַבְתֶּם, אֶת-הַגֵּר is there a command to love one's husband/wife?
If the Torah tells us to love the stranger, וַאֲהַבְתֶּם, אֶת-הַגֵּר is there a command to love one's husband/wife?
7
votes
1answer
225 views
What is the purpose of the bowing in the Amidah?
We bow in the Amidah as it says in Sh O, O Ch 113 (1)
These are the blessings at which we bow: In the Shemoneh Esrei at the
prayer of Avot and at the end, In Modim in the beginning and at the
...
6
votes
1answer
74 views
Why do we make the non-havdalah Brachos at havdalah if they're not necessary for the mitzvah?
As discussed here, not having spices or a flame does not prevent one from doing havdalah.
All of them have their reasons for being a part of the service (see this Aish article, point #5, for those ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
why the rapist is not obligated to marry when the girl was older then 12 and a half years old
Rambam Naarah Betulah Chapter One
Halacha 3
...When, however, a woman who is raped or her father do not desire that she marry the rapist, they have that prerogative. [In such an instance,] he must ...
2
votes
3answers
485 views
What's the meaning of not eating animals with blood? [closed]
You can't eat blood, or stuff with blood in it. (Cooked pig blood is a popular cuisine choice in Jakarta.) Actually what is the meaning of not eating stuff with blood in it? Is it because you can't ...
4
votes
0answers
64 views
Reason for Ein Onshim Min HaDin
There's a concept that אין עונשים מן הדין that appears a bunch of times throughout Shas (Makkos 5b for example). It basically means we don't learn out punishments the same way we learn out obligations....
2
votes
0answers
148 views
For what purpose do married women need to cover their hair
I'm looking for a sourced reason for what purpose married women (as opposed to women who were never married) need to cover their hair. I have found that it is assumed that it is to make her less ...
