Mitzvah
Mitzvah (Hebrew: מצווה, "commandment"; plural, mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah, "command") is a word used in Judaism to refer to the commandments, of which there are 613, given in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) or any Jewish law at all. The term can also refer to the fulfillment of a mitzvah as defined above.
Rabbis are divided between those who seek the purpose of the mitzvot and those who do not question them. The latter argue that if the reason for each mitzvah could be determined, people might try to achieve what they see as the purpose of the mitzvah, without actually performing the mitzvah itself. For example, the term mitzvah could be understood to express any act of human kindness, such as the burial of the body of an unknown person.
The word "Mitzvah" is also used in the context of a coming of age ceremony for Jewish youth. The specific terms used are Bar Mitzvah (for boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for girls).
Enumeration and Significance of 613
According to Judaism, all moral laws are derived from divine commandments. The Rabbis extrapolated a total of 613 mitzvot or commandments from the Torah, which were to be followed by observant Jews.[1] The number of these commandments represented "365 negative commandments like the number of days in the solar year, and 248 positive commandments like the number of bones in the human body" (Talmud, tractate Makkoth, 23b).
According to the Midrash, all divine commandments were given on Mount Sinai, and no prophet could add any new one (Midrash Sifra to Leviticus 27:34; Talmud, Yoma 80a). However, Rabbi Ismael (90-135 C.E.) states that only the principal commandments of the 613 were given on Mount Sinai, the remainder having been given in the Tent of Meeting. According to Rabbi Akiva (c. 50–c. 135 C.E.) they were all given on Mount Sinai, repeated in the Tent of Meeting, and declared a third time by Moses before his death.
According to tradition, of the 613 commandments, 248 are mitzvot aseh ("positive commandments" commands to perform certain actions) and 365 are mitzvot lo taaseh ("negative commandments" commands to abstain from certain actions). Three of the negative commandments can involve yehareg ve'al ya'avor, meaning “One should let himself be killed rather than violate this negative commandment,” and they are murder, idol-worship, and forbidden relations.
According to the Talmud (tractate Makkoth 23b), a Biblical verse states that Moses transmitted the "Torah" from God to the Jewish people: "Moses commanded us the Torah as an inheritance for the community of Jacob" (Deut. 33:04). However, there were two commandments which God delivered directly to the Jews: the first two of the Ten Commandments; these are phrased in the first person. The Talmud calculates that the numerical value of the Hebrew word "Torah" is 611. Thus, Moses's 611 commandments combined with the two directly from God add up to 613. For a time, Gematria (numerology in the Hebrew Bible) was a significant feature in Jewish religious thought, and it was said that the number 611 (the numerical value for torah) was the number of commandments given via Moses while the remaining two were given by the Mouth of God Himself.
Many Jewish [[philosophy|philosophical and mystical works (e.g. by Baal ha-Turim, the Maharal of Prague and leaders of Hasidic Judaism) find allusions and inspirational calculations relating to the number of commandments. Other works dispute that exactly 613 mitzvot exist.
The tzitzit ("knotted fringes") of the tallit ("[prayer] shawl") are connected to the 613 commandments by interpretation: principal Torah commentator Rashi bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (Hebrew: ציצת (Biblical), ציצית, in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totaling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzit reminds its wearer of all Torah commandments.
The Mitzvot and Jewish law
In rabbinic thought, God's will is the source of, and authority for, every moral and religious duty. In this way, the mitzvot constitute the divinely instituted “rules of conduct.” Consequently, while Judaism regards the violation of the mitzvot to be a sin, Jewish ideas concerning “sin” differ from those of other religions.
In rabbinic thought, the commandments are usually divided into two major groups:
- positive commandments (obligations) – mitzvot aseh מצות עשה
- negative commandments (prohibitions) – mitzvot lo ta'aseh מצות לא תעשה
The system describing the practical application of the commandments is known as Halakha or Jewish Law. Halakha is the development of the mitzvot as contained in the written law, via discussion and debate in the Oral law, as recorded in the rabbinic literature of the classical era, especially the Mishnah and the Talmud.
Halakha dictates everything the traditionalist Jew does from the moment he or she wakes up to the moment they go to sleep. It is very extensive, and includes codes of behavior applicable to virtually every imaginable circumstance, as well as many hypothetical ones. More generally, in Judaism, it is viewed that proselytes, on being initiated into Judaism, must be familiarised with commandments both of great and of small importance (Yeb. 47b).
Many of these laws concern only special classes of people, such as kings or the priesthood, Levites, or Nazarites, or are conditioned by local or temporary circumstances of the Jewish nation, as, for instance, the agricultural, sacrificial, and Levitical laws.
The majority view of classical rabbis was that the commandments will still be applicable and in force during the messianic era. However, a significant minority of rabbis held that most of the commandments will be nullified by, or in, the messianic era. Examples of such rabbinic views include:
- That today we should observe the commandments, because we will not observe them in the world to come (Rashi).
- That in the future all sacrifices, with the exception of the Thanksgiving-sacrifice, will be discontinued (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 9:7).
- That all sacrifices will be annulled in the future (Tanchuma Emor 19, Vayikra Rabbah 9:7).
- That God will permit what is now forbidden (Midrash Shochar Tov, Mizmor 146:5).
- That most mitzvot will no longer be in force (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Niddah 61b and Tractate Shabbat 151b).
There is no authoritative answer accepted within Judaism as to which mitzvot, if any, would be annulled in the messianic era.
Rabbinic Debates
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The Talmudic source is not without dissent. Apart from Rabbi Simlai (early third century C.E.), to whom the number 613 is attributed, other classical sages who hold this view include Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai (Sifre, Deuteronomy 76) and Rabbi Eleazar ben Yose the Galilean (Midrash Aggadah to Genesis 15:1). It is quoted in Midrash Shemot Rabbah 33:7, Bamidbar Rabbah 13:15–16; 18:21 and Talmud Yevamot 47b.
However, some held that this count was not an authentic tradition, or that it was not logically possible to come up with a systematic count. This is possibly why no early work of Jewish law or Biblical commentary depended on this system, and no early systems of Jewish principles of faith made acceptance of this Haggadah (non-legal Talmudic statement) normative. The classical Biblical commentator and grammarian Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra denied that this was an authentic rabbinic tradition. Ibn Ezra writes "Some sages enumerate 613 mitzvot in many diverse ways [...] but in truth there is no end to the number of mitzvot [...] and if we were to count only the root principles [...] the number of mitzvot would not reach 613" (Yesod Mora, chap. 2).
Nahmanides (1194 – c. 1270 C.E.) held that this counting was the matter of a dispute, and that rabbinic opinion on this is not unanimous. Despite this, he states that "this total has proliferated throughout the aggadic literature... we ought to say that it was a tradition from Moses at Mount Sinai" (Nahmanides, Commentary to Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot'', Root Principle 1).
Rabbi Simeon ben Tzemah Duran states that "perhaps the agreement that the number of mitzvot is 613... is just Rabbi Simlai's opinion, following his own explication of the mitzvot. And we need not rely on his explication when we come to determine the law, but rather on the Talmudic discussions" (Zohar Harakia, Lviv, 1858, 99).
Rabbis who attempted to compile a list of the 613 commandments faced a number of difficulties:
- Which statements were to be counted as commandments? Every command by God to any individual? Only commandments to the entire people of Israel?
- Would an order from God be counted as a commandment, for the purposes of such a list, if it could only be complied with in one place and time? Or, would such an order only count as a commandment if it could—at least in theory—be followed at all times? (The latter is the view of Maimonides)
- How does one count commandments in a single verse which offers multiple prohibitions? Should each prohibition count as a single commandment, or does the entire set count as one commandment?
In Torah Min Hashamayim ("Heavenly Torah"), Conservative Rabbi Abraham Heschel writes:
- Judah ibn Bal'am denigrates those who number the mitzvot, and who attempt "to force their count to equal 613." In his opinion, this is impossible, for if we were to count all of the mitzvot, including those that were temporary commandments and those that were intended to endure, the number would be far greater than 613. "And if we confined ourselves only to those that endure, we would find fewer than this number." (Behinat Hamitzvot Rabbi Yehiel Mikhel Gutmann, Breslau, 1928, 26)
Despite these misgivings, the idea that there are 613 commandments became accepted as normative in the Jewish community. Today, even among those who do not literally accept this count as accurate, it is still a common practice to refer to the total system of commandments within the Torah as the "613 commandments."
However, the 613 mitzvot do not constitute a proper code of present-day Halakah; such codes are listed under codes of Jewish law.
Works enumerating the commandments
In practice, there is no one definitive list in the Torah that explicates the 613 laws. In some places, the Torah lists related laws together, so it is difficult to know whether one is dealing with a single law, which lists several cases, or several separate laws. Other "commandments" in the Torah are restricted as one-time acts, and would not be considered as "mitzvot" binding on other persons. In rabbinic literature, there are a number of works, mainly by the Rishonim, that were composed to determine which commandments belong in this enumeration:
- Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ("Book of Commandments") by Rabbi Saadia Gaon is the earliest extant enumaration of the 613 mitzvot. Written during the period of the Geonim, Gaon's work is a simple list, though it was (later expanded by Rabbi Yerucham Fishel Perlow.)
- Sefer Hamitzvot ("Book of Commandments") by Maimonides, with a critical commentary by Nachmanides. Maimonides employs a set of 14 rules (shorashim) which determine inclusion into the list. In this work, he supports his specification of each Mitzvah through quotations from the midrash halakha and the Gemara. Nachmanides makes a number of critical points and replaces some items of the list with others.
- Sefer ha-Chinnuch ("Book of Education"). This work generally follows Maimonides' reckoning of the 613 commandments. It is written in the order in which the commandments appear in the Torah rather than an arrangement by category (as in Maimonides' work). In addition to enumerating the commandments and giving a brief overview of relevant laws, the Sefer ha-Chinuch also tries to explain the philosophical reasons behind the mitzvot. It has been attributed to various authors, most commonly Rabbi Aaron ha-Levi of Barcelona (the Ra'ah), though its true authorship is unknown.
- Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Gadol ("Large book of Commandments") by Rabbi Moses ben Jacob of Coucy.
- Sefer ha-Mitzvoth ha-Katan ("Small book of Commandments") by Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil. This work was written in the form of a poem, divided into seven sections and intended to be read each week. While Isaac's work is fairly short, most editions contain lengthy commentaries.
- Sefer Yere'im ("Book of the [God-]fearing") by Rabbi Eliezer of Metz (not a clear enumeration).
- Sefer ha-Mitzvoth by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (the "Chafetz Chaim"). The Chafetz Chaim's work follows the reckoning of Maimonides but gives only the commandments relevant today (ignoring commandments regarding temple service, ritual purity, etc.). Though the original included only those commandments relevant in all places and at all times, later editions included agricultural laws relevant today only in the land of Israel.
Rabbinical Mitzvot
The Biblical mitzvot are referred to in the Talmud as Mitzvot de oraita, translated as commandments of the law. In contrast to this are additional rabbinical commandments, referred to as Mitzvot de rabbanan. Among the more famous of these latter rabbinical mitzvot are:
- The benediction, or thanksgiving for each enjoyment
- Washing of the hands before eating
- Lighting of the Sabbath lamp
- The 'Erub, on preparation for Sabbath transfer
- The Hallel liturgy on holy days
- The Hanukkah lights
- The reading of the Esther scroll on Purim.
These seven rabbinical commandments are treated like Biblical commandments in so far as, prior to the fulfilment of each, a benediction is recited:
- Blessed be the Lord who has commanded us ...
The divine command is considered implied in the general law (Deuteronomy 17:11, and 32:7; Shab. 23a). Many of the ideas concerning the implication of Biblical mitzvot are only derived via rabbinical interpretation; for example, the reading of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-7), the binding of the tefillin and the fixing of the mezuzah (Deuteronomy 8-9), and the saying of grace after meals (Deuteronomy 8:10).
Academic treatment
Biblically, six differing law codes were given by God, to Moses, at Mount Sinai:
- The Ten Commandments.
- The Covenant Code, which provides more detailed laws.
- The Ritual Decalogue
- The Priestly Code, containing extensive laws concerning rituals and more general situations is given from above the mercy seat in the Tabernacle, once the Ark and Tabernacle have been completed. This code is extended further when events occur not quite covered by the law, causing Moses to ask Yahweh for greater clarification.
- The Holiness Code is contained within the Priestly Code, close to the end, but is a distinct subsection placing particular emphasis on things which are holy, and which should be done to honor the holy. It also contains the warnings from Yahweh about what will occur if the laws are not followed, as well as promises for the event that the laws are followed.
- The Deuteronomic Code is remembered by Moses, in his last speeches before death, both covering the ground of prior codes, but also adds further laws not recorded earlier, which Moses has remembered.
In biblical criticism, these codes are studied separately, particularly concerning their unique features. Nevertheless, many of the mitzvot enumerated as being from these codes are also present in others, sometimes phrased in a different manner, or with additional clauses. Additionally, themes, such as idolatry, sexual behaviour, ritual cleanliness, and offerings of sacrifice, are shared among all six codes, and thus, in more religiously motivated theological studies, it is often the case that the mitzvot are organised by theme rather than by the location in which they are found within the Hebrew Bible.
Maimonides' List
The 613 commandments and their source in scripture, as enumerated by Maimonides (1135–1204) in his Sefer Hamitzvot ("Book of Commandments"):
- To know there is a God
- Not to entertain thoughts of other gods besides Him
- To know that He is One
- To love Him
- To fear Him
- To sanctify His Name
- Not to profane His Name
- Not to destroy objects associated with His Name
- To listen to the prophet speaking in His Name
- Not to test the prophet unduly
- To emulate His ways
- To cleave to those who know Him
- To love other Jews
- To love converts
- Not to hate fellow Jews
- To reprove a sinner
- Not to embarrass others
- Not to oppress the weak
- Not to speak derogatorily of others
- Not to take revenge
- Not to bear a grudge
- To learn Torah
- To honor those who teach and know Torah
- Not to inquire into idolatry
- Not to follow the whims of your heart or what your eyes see
- Not to blaspheme
- Not to worship idols in the manner they are worshiped
- Not to worship idols in the four ways we worship God
- Not to make an idol for yourself
- Not to make an idol for others
- Not to make human forms even for decorative purposes
- Not to turn a city to idolatry
- To burn a city that has turned to idol worship
- Not to rebuild it as a city
- Not to derive benefit from it
- Not to missionize an individual to idol worship
- Not to love the missionary
- Not to cease hating the missionary
- Not to save the missionary
- Not to say anything in his defense
- Not to refrain from incriminating him
- Not to prophesize in the name of idolatry
- Not to listen to a false prophet
- Not to prophesize falsely in the name of God
- Not to be afraid of killing the false prophet
- Not to swear in the name of an idol
- Not to perform ov (medium)
- Not to perform yidoni ("magical seer")
- Not to pass your children through the fire to Molech
- Not to erect a pillar in a public place of worship
- Not to bow down on smooth stone
- Not to plant a tree in the Temple courtyard
- To destroy idols and their accessories
- Not to derive benefit from idols and their accessories
- Not to derive benefit from ornaments of idols
- Not to make a covenant with idolaters
- Not to show favor to them
- Not to let them dwell in the Land of Israel
- Not to imitate them in customs and clothing
- Not to be superstitious
- Not to go into a trance to foresee events, etc.
- Not to engage in astrology
- Not to mutter incantations
- Not to attempt to contact the dead
- Not to consult the ov
- Not to consult the yidoni
- Not to perform acts of magic
- Men must not shave the hair off the sides of their head
- Men must not shave their beards with a razor
- Men must not wear women's clothing
- Women must not wear men's clothing
- Not to tattoo the skin
- Not to tear the skin in mourning
- Not to make a bald spot in mourning
- To repent and confess wrongdoings
- To say the Shema twice daily
- To serve the Almighty with daily prayer
- The Kohanim must bless the Jewish nation daily
- To wear tefillin (phylacteries) on the head
- To bind tefillin on the arm
- To put a mezuzah on each door post
- Each male must write a Torah scroll
- The king must have a separate Sefer Torah for himself
- To have tzitzit on four-cornered garments
- To bless the Almighty after eating
- To circumcise all males on the eighth day after their birth
- To rest on the seventh day
- Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day
- The court must not inflict punishment on Shabbat
- Not to walk outside the city boundary on Shabbat
- To sanctify the day with Kiddush and Havdalah
- To rest from prohibited labor
- Not to do prohibited labor on Yom Kippur
- To afflict yourself on Yom Kippur
- Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur
- To rest on the first day of Passover
- Not to do prohibited labor on the first day of Passover
- To rest on the seventh day of Passover
- Not to do prohibited labor on the seventh day of Passover
- To rest on Shavuot
- Not to do prohibited labor on Shavuot
- To rest on Rosh Hashanah
- Not to do prohibited labor on Rosh Hashanah
- To rest on Sukkot
- Not to do prohibited labor on Sukkot
- To rest on Shemini Atzeret
- Not to do prohibited labor on Shemini Atzeret
- Not to eat chametz on the afternoon of the 14th day of Nissan
- To destroy all chametz on 14th day of Nissan
- Not to eat chametz all seven days of Passover
- Not to eat mixtures containing chametz all seven days of Passover
- Not to see chametz in your domain seven days
- Not to find chametz in your domain seven days
- To eat matzah on the first night of Passover
- To relate the Exodus from Egypt on that night
- To hear the Shofar on the first day of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah)
- To dwell in a Sukkah for the seven days of Sukkot
- To take up a Lulav and Etrog all seven days
- Each man must give a half shekel annually
- Courts must calculate to determine when a new month begins
- To afflict oneself and cry out before God in times of calamity
- To marry a wife by means of ketubah and kiddushin
- Not to have sexual relations with women not thus married
- Not to withhold food, clothing, and sexual relations from your wife
- To have children with one's wife
- To issue a divorce by means of a Get document
- A man must not remarry his ex-wife after she has married someone else
- To perform yibbum (marry the widow of one's childless brother)
- To perform halizah (free the widow of one's childless brother from yibbum)
- The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed (by halizah)
- The court must fine one who sexually seduces a maiden
- The rapist must marry the maiden (if she chooses)
- He is never allowed to divorce her
- The slanderer must remain married to his wife
- He must not divorce her
- To fulfill the laws of the Sotah
- Not to put oil on her meal offering (as usual)
- Not to put frankincense on her meal offering (as usual)
- Not to have sexual relations with your mother
- Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife
- Not to have sexual relations with your sister
- Not to have sexual relations with your father's wife's daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with your son's daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with your daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with your daughter's daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her son's daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with a woman and her daughter's daughter
- Not to have sexual relations with your father's sister
- Not to have sexual relations with your mother's sister
- Not to have sexual relations with your father's brother's wife
- Not to have sexual relations with your son's wife
- Not to have sexual relations with your brother's wife
- Not to have sexual relations with your wife's sister
- A man must not have sexual relations with an animal
- A woman must not have sexual relations with an animal
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations with your father
- Not to have homosexual sexual relations with your father's brother
- Not to have sexual relations with someone else's wife
- Not to have sexual relations with a menstrually impure woman
- Not to marry non-Jews
- Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry into the Jewish people
- Not to prevent a third-generation Egyptian convert from marrying into the Jewish people
- Not to refrain from marrying a third generation Edomite convert
- Not to let a mamzer (a child born due to an illegal relationship) marry into the Jewish people
- Not to let a eunuch marry into the Jewish people
- Not to offer to God any castrated male animals
- The High Priest must not marry a widow
- The High Priest must not have sexual relations with a widow even outside of marriage
- The High Priest must marry a virgin maiden
- A Kohen (priest) must not marry a divorcee
- A Kohen must not marry a zonah (a woman who has had a forbidden sexual relationship)
- A priest must not marry a chalalah ("a desecrated person") (party to or product of 169-172)
- Not to make pleasurable (sexual) contact with any forbidden woman
- To examine the signs of animals to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
- To examine the signs of fowl to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
- To examine the signs of fish to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
- To examine the signs of locusts to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher
- Not to eat non-kosher animals
- Not to eat non-kosher fowl
- Not to eat non-kosher fish
- Not to eat non-kosher flying insects
- Not to eat non-kosher creatures that crawl on land
- Not to eat non-kosher maggots
- Not to eat worms found in fruit on the ground
- Not to eat creatures that live in water other than (kosher) fish
- Not to eat the meat of an animal that died without ritual slaughter
- Not to benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned
- Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded
- Not to eat a limb torn off a living creature
- Not to eat blood
- Not to eat certain fats of clean animals
- Not to eat the sinew of the thigh
- Not to eat meat and milk cooked together
- Not to cook meat and milk together
- Not to eat bread from new grain before the Omer
- Not to eat parched grains from new grain before the Omer
- Not to eat ripened grains from new grain before the Omer
- Not to eat fruit of a tree during its first three years
- Not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard
- Not to eat untithed fruits
- Not to drink wine poured in service to idols
- To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it
- Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day
- To cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl) with earth
- Not to take the mother bird from her children
- To release the mother bird if she was taken from the nest
- Not to swear falsely in God's Name
- Not to take God's Name in vain
- Not to deny possession of something entrusted to you
- Not to swear in denial of a monetary claim
- To swear in God's Name to confirm the truth when deemed necessary by court
- To fulfill what was uttered and to do what was avowed
- Not to break oaths or vows
- For oaths and vows annulled, there are the laws of annulling vows explicit in the Torah
- The Nazir must let his hair grow
- He must not cut his hair
- He must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine vinegar
- He must not eat fresh grapes
- He must not eat raisins
- He must not eat grape seeds
- He must not eat grape skins
- He must not be under the same roof as a corpse
- He must not come into contact with the dead
- He must shave his head after bringing sacrifices upon completion of his Nazirite period
- To estimate the value of people as determined by the Torah
- To estimate the value of consecrated animals
- To estimate the value of consecrated houses
- To estimate the value of consecrated fields
- Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions (cherem)
- Not to sell the cherem
- Not to redeem the cherem
- Not to plant diverse seeds together
- Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard
- Not to crossbreed animals
- Not to work different animals together
- Not to wear shatnez, a cloth woven of wool and linen
- To leave a corner of the field uncut for the poor
- Not to reap that corner
- To leave gleanings
- Not to gather the gleanings
- To leave the gleanings of a vineyard
- Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard
- To leave the unformed clusters of grapes
- Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes
- To leave the forgotten sheaves in the field
- Not to retrieve them
- To separate the "tithe for the poor"
- To give charity
- Not to withhold charity from the poor
- To set aside Terumah Gedolah (gift for the Kohen)
- The Levite must set aside a tenth of his tithe
- Not to preface one tithe to the next, but separate them in their proper order
- A non-Kohen must not eat Terumah
- A hired worker or a Jewish bondsman of a Kohen must not eat Terumah
- An uncircumcised Kohen must not eat Terumah
- An impure Kohen must not eat Terumah
- A chalalah (party to #s 169-172 above) must not eat Terumah
- To set aside Ma'aser (tithe) each planting year and give it to a Levite
- To set aside the second tithe (Ma'aser Sheni)
- Not to spend its redemption money on anything but food, drink, or ointment
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni while impure
- A mourner on the first day after death must not eat Ma'aser Sheni
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni grains outside Jerusalem
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni wine products outside Jerusalem
- Not to eat Ma'aser Sheni oil outside Jerusalem
- The fourth year crops must be totally for holy purposes like Ma'aser Sheni
- To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year
- To set aside the first fruits and bring them to the Temple
- The Kohanim must not eat the first fruits outside Jerusalem
- To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation
- To set aside a portion of dough for a Kohen
- To give the shoulder, two cheeks, and stomach of slaughtered animals to a Kohen
- To give the first shearing of sheep to a Kohen
- To redeem firstborn sons and give the money to a Kohen
- To redeem the firstborn donkey by giving a lamb to a Kohen
- To break the neck of the donkey if the owner does not intend to redeem it
- To rest the land during the seventh year by not doing any work which enhances growth
- Not to work the land during the seventh year
- Not to work with trees to produce fruit during that year
- Not to reap crops that grow wild that year in the normal manner
- Not to gather grapes which grow wild that year in the normal way
- To leave free all produce which grew in that year
- To release all loans during the seventh year
- Not to pressure or claim from the borrower
- Not to refrain from lending immediately before the release of the loans for fear of monetary loss
- The Sanhedrin must count seven groups of seven years
- The Sanhedrin must sanctify the fiftieth year
- To blow the Shofar on the tenth of Tishrei to free the slaves
- Not to work the soil during the fiftieth year (Jubilee)
- Not to reap in the normal manner that which grows wild in the fiftieth year
- Not to pick grapes which grew wild in the normal manner in the fiftieth year
- Carry out the laws of sold family properties
- Not to sell the land in Israel indefinitely
- Carry out the laws of houses in walled cities
- The Tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in
- The Levites must not take a share in the spoils of war
- To give the Levites cities to inhabit and their surrounding fields
- Not to sell the fields but they shall remain the Levites' before and after the Jubilee year
- To build a Temple
- Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal
- Not to climb steps to the altar
- To show reverence to the Temple
- To guard the Temple area
- Not to leave the Temple unguarded
- To prepare the anointing oil
- Not to reproduce the anointing oil
- Not to anoint with anointing oil
- Not to reproduce the incense formula
- Not to burn anything on the Golden Altar besides incense
- The Levites must transport the ark on their shoulders
- Not to remove the staves from the ark
- The Levites must work in the Temple
- No Levite must do another's work of either a Kohen or a Levite
- To dedicate the Kohen for service
- The work of the Kohanim's shifts must be equal during holidays
- The Kohanim must wear their priestly garments during service
- Not to tear the priestly garments
- The Kohen Gadol 's breastplate must not be loosened from the Efod
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple intoxicated
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple with long hair
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple with torn clothes
- A Kohen must not enter the Temple indiscriminately
- A Kohen must not leave the Temple during service
- To send the impure from the Temple
- Impure people must not enter the Temple
- Impure people must not enter the Temple Mount area
- Impure Kohanim must not do service in the temple
- An impure Kohen, following immersion, must wait until after sundown before returning to service
- A Kohen must wash his hands and feet before service
- A Kohen with a physical blemish must not enter the sanctuary or approach the altar
- A Kohen with a physical blemish must not serve
- A Kohen with a temporary blemish must not serve
- One who is not a Kohen must not serve
- To offer only unblemished animals
- Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar
- Not to slaughter it
- Not to sprinkle its blood
- Not to burn its fat
- Not to offer a temporarily blemished animal
- Not to sacrifice blemished animals even if offered by non-Jews
- Not to inflict wounds upon dedicated animals
- To redeem dedicated animals which have become disqualified
- To offer only animals which are at least eight days old
- Not to offer animals bought with the wages of a harlot or the animal exchanged for a dog
- Not to burn honey or yeast on the altar
- To salt all sacrifices
- Not to omit the salt from sacrifices
- Carry out the procedure of the burnt offering as prescribed in the Torah
- Not to eat its meat
- Carry out the procedure of the sin offering
- Not to eat the meat of the inner sin offering
- Not to decapitate a fowl brought as a sin offering
- Carry out the procedure of the guilt offering
- The Kohanim must eat the sacrificial meat in the Temple
- The Kohanim must not eat the meat outside the Temple courtyard
- A non-Kohen must not eat sacrificial meat
- To follow the procedure of the peace offering
- Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood
- To bring meal offerings as prescribed in the Torah
- Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers
- Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers
- Not to eat the meal offering of the High Priest
- Not to bake a meal offering as leavened bread
- The Kohanim must eat the remains of the meal offerings
- To bring all avowed and freewill offerings to the Temple on the first subsequent festival
- Not to withhold payment incurred by any vow
- To offer all sacrifices in the Temple
- To bring all sacrifices from outside Israel to the Temple
- Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard
- Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard
- To offer two lambs every day
- To light a fire on the altar every day
- Not to extinguish this fire
- To remove the ashes from the altar every day
- To burn incense every day
- To light the Menorah every day
- The Kohen Gadol ("High Priest") must bring a meal offering every day
- To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on Shabbat
- To make the show bread
- To bring additional offerings on Rosh Chodesh (" The New Month")
- To bring additional offerings on Passover
- To offer the wave offering from the meal of the new wheat
- Each man must count the Omer - seven weeks from the day the new wheat offering was brought
- To bring additional offerings on Shavuot
- To bring two leaves to accompany the above sacrifice
- To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana
- To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur
- To bring additional offerings on Sukkot
- To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret
- Not to eat sacrifices which have become unfit or blemished.3
- Not to eat from sacrifices offered with improper intentions
- Not to leave sacrifices past the time allowed for eating them
- Not to eat from that which was left over
- Not to eat from sacrifices which became impure
- An impure person must not eat from sacrifices
- To burn the leftover sacrifices
- To burn all impure sacrifices
- To follow the procedure of Yom Kippur in the sequence prescribed in Parsha] Acharei Mot ("After the death of Aaron's sons...")
- One who profaned property must repay what he profaned plus a fifth and bring a sacrifice
- Not to work consecrated animals
- Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals
- To slaughter the paschal sacrifice at the specified time
- Not to slaughter it while in possession of leaven
- Not to leave the fat overnight
- To slaughter the second Paschal Lamb
- To eat the Paschal Lamb with matzah and Marror on the night of the fourteenth of Nissan
- To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the 15th of Iyar
- Not to eat the paschal meat raw or boiled
- Not to take the paschal meat from the confines of the group
- An apostate must not eat from it
- A permanent or temporary hired worker must not eat from it
- An uncircumcised male must not eat from it
- Not to break any bones from the paschal offering
- Not to break any bones from the second paschal offering
- Not to leave any meat from the paschal offering over until morning
- Not to leave the second paschal meat over until morning
- Not to leave the meat of the holiday offering of the 14th until the 16th
- To be seen at the Temple on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot
- To celebrate on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering)
- To rejoice on these three Festivals (bring a peace offering)
- Not to appear at the Temple without offerings
- Not to refrain from rejoicing with, and giving gifts to, the Levites
- To assemble all the people on the Sukkot following the seventh year
- To set aside the firstborn animals
- The Kohanim must not eat unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem
- Not to redeem the firstborn
- Separate the tithe from animals
- Not to redeem the tithe
- Every person must bring a sin offering (in the temple) for his transgression
- Bring an asham talui (temple offering) when uncertain of guilt
- Bring an asham vadai (temple offering) when guilt is ascertained
- Bring an oleh v'yored (temple offering) offering (if the person is wealthy, an animal; if poor, a bird or meal offering)
- The Sanhedrin must bring an offering (in the Temple) when it rules in error
- A woman who had a running (vaginal) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh
- A woman who gave birth must bring an offering (in the Temple) after she goes to the Mikveh
- A man who had a running (unnatural urinary) issue must bring an offering (in the Temple) after he goes to the Mikveh
- A metzora must bring an offering (in the Temple) after going to the Mikveh
- Not to substitute another beast for one set apart for sacrifice
- The new animal, in addition to the substituted one, retains consecration
- Not to change consecrated animals from one type of offering to another
- Carry out the laws of impurity of the dead
- Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer (Para Aduma)
- Carry out the laws of the sprinkling water
- Rule the laws of human tzara'at as prescribed in the Torah
- The metzora must not remove his signs of impurity
- The metzora must not shave signs of impurity in his hair
- The metzora must publicize his condition by tearing his garments, allowing his hair to grow and covering his lips
- Carry out the prescribed rules for purifying the metzora
- The metzora must shave off all his hair prior to purification
- Carry out the laws of tzara'at of clothing
- Carry out the laws of tzara'at of houses
- Observe the laws of menstrual impurity
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a woman's running issue
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a man's running issue (irregular ejaculation of infected semen)
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by a dead beast
- Observe the laws of impurity caused by the eight shratzim (insects)
- Observe the laws of impurity of a seminal emission (regular ejaculation, with normal semen)
- Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and solid foods
- Every impure person must immerse himself in a Mikveh to become pure
- The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox
- The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating
- The court must judge the damages incurred by a pit
- The court must judge the damages incurred by fire
- Not to steal money stealthily
- The court must implement punitive measures against the thief
- Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate
- Not to commit injustice with scales and[weights
- Not to possess inaccurate scales and weights even if they are not for use
- Not to move a boundary marker to steal someone's property
- Not to kidnap
- Not to rob openly
- Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt
- Not to covet and scheme to acquire another's possession
- Not to desire another's possession
- Return the robbed object or its value
- Not to ignore a lost object
- Return the lost object
- The court must implement laws against the one who assaults another or damages another's property
- Not to murder
- Not to accept monetary restitution to atone for the murderer
- The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge
- Not to accept monetary restitution instead of being sent to a city of refuge
- Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial
- Save someone being pursued even by taking the life of the pursuer
- Not to pity the pursuer
- Not to stand idly by if someone's life is in danger
- Designate cities of refuge and prepare routes of access
- Break the neck of a calf by the river valley following an unsolved murder
- Not to work nor plant that river valley
- Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your property
- Make a guard rail around flat roofs
- Not to put a stumbling block before a blind man (nor give harmful advice) (Lifnei iver)
- Help another remove the load from a beast which can no longer carry it
- Help others load their beast
- Not to leave others distraught with their burdens (but to help either load or unload)
- Buy and sell according to Torah law
- Not to overcharge or underpay for an article
- Not to insult or harm anybody with words
- Not to cheat a sincere convert monetarily
- Not to insult or harm a sincere convert with words
- Purchase a Hebrew slave in accordance with the prescribed laws
- Not to sell him as a slave is sold
- Not to work him oppressively
- Not to allow a non-Jew to work him oppressively
- Not to have him do menial slave labor
- Give him gifts when he goes free
- Not to send him away empty-handed
- Redeem Jewish maidservants
- Betroth the Jewish maidservant
- The master must not sell his maidservant
- Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs
- Not to extradite a slave who fled to (Biblical) Israel
- Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for refuge
- The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard
- Pay wages on the day they were earned
- Not to delay payment of wages past the agreed time
- The hired worker may eat from the unharvested crops where he works
- The worker must not eat while on hired time
- The worker must not take more than he can eat
- Not to muzzle an ox while plowing
- The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower
- The courts must carry out the laws of an unpaid guard
- Lend to the poor and destitute
- Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it
- Press the idolater for payment
- The creditor must not forcibly take collateral
- Return the collateral to the debtor when needed
- Not to delay its return when needed
- Not to demand collateral from a widow
- Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for preparing food
- Not to lend with interest
- Not to borrow with interest
- Not to intermediate in an interest loan, guarantee, witness, or write the promissory note
- Lend to and borrow from idolaters with interest
- The courts must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitter, or denier
- Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance
- Appoint judges
- Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure
- Decide by majority in case of disagreement
- The court must not execute through a majority of one; at least a majority of two is required
- A judge who presented an acquittal plea must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases
- The courts must carry out the death penalty of stoning
- The courts must carry out the death penalty of burning
- The courts must carry out the death penalty of the sword
- The courts must carry out the death penalty of strangulation
- The courts must hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry
- Bury the executed on the day they are killed
- Not to delay burial overnight
- The court must not let the sorcerer live
- The court must give lashes to the wrongdoer
- The court must not exceed the prescribed number of lashes
- The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence
- The court must not punish anybody who was forced to do a crime
- A judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at the trial
- A judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the trial
- A judge must not respect the great man at the trial
- A judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor
- A judge must not pervert justice
- A judge must not pervert a case involving a convert or orphan
- Judge righteously
- The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment
- Judges must not accept bribes
- Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present
- Not to curse judges
- Not to curse the head of state or leader of the Sanhedrin
- Not to curse any upstanding Jew
- Anybody who knows evidence must testify in court
- Carefully interrogate the witness
- A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes
- Not to accept testimony from a lone witness
- Transgressors must not testify
- Relatives of the litigants must not testify
- Not to testify falsely
- Punish the false witnesses as they tried to punish the defendant
- Act according to the ruling of the Sanhedrin
- Not to deviate from the word of the Sanhedrin
- Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations
- Not to diminish from the Torah any commandments, in whole or in part
- Not to curse your father and mother
- Not to strike your father and mother
- Respect your father or mother
- Fear your father or mother
- Not to be a rebellious son
- Mourn for relatives
- The High Priest must not defile himself for any relative
- The High Priest must not enter under the same roof as a corpse
- A Kohen must not defile himself (by going to funerals or cemeteries) for anyone except relatives
- Appoint a king from Israel
- Not to appoint a convert
- The king must not have too many wives
- The king must not have too many horses
- The king must not have too much silver and gold
- Destroy the seven Canaanite nations
- Not to let any of them remain alive
- Wipe out the descendants of Amalek
- Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people
- Not to forget Amalek's atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert
- Not to dwell permanently in Egypt
- Offer peace terms to the inhabitants of a city while holding siege, and treat them according to the Torah if they accept the terms
- Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them
- Not to destroy fruit trees even during the siege
- Prepare latrines outside the camps
- Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with
- Appoint a priest to speak with the soldiers during the war
- He who has taken a wife, built a new home, or planted a vineyard is given a year to rejoice with his possessions
- Not to demand from the above any involvement, communal or military
- Not to panic and retreat during battle
- Keep the laws of the captive woman
- Not to sell her into slavery
- Not to retain her for servitude after having sexual relations with her
Notes
- ↑ The number 613 is attributed to Rabbi Simlai (early third century C.E.). Other classical sages who hold this view include Rabbi Simeon ben Azzai (Sifre, Deuteronomy 76) and Rabbi Eleazar ben Yose the Galilean (Midrash Aggadah to Genesis 15:1). It is quoted in Midrash Shemot Rabbah 33:7, Bamidbar Rabbah 13:15–16; 18:21 and Talmud Yevamot 47b.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Chill, Abraham. The Mitzvot: The Commandments and Their Rationale. Jerusalem: Urim Publications, 2000. ISBN 978-9657108147
- Eisenberg, Ronald L. The 613 Mitzvot: A Contemporary Guide to the Commandments of Judaism. Rockville, MD: Schreiber Publishing, Inc., 2005. ISBN 978-0884003038
- Isaacs, Ronald. Mitzvot: A Sourcebook for the 613 Commandments. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson, 1996. ISBN 978-1568219004
- Milgram, Rabbi Goldie. Meaning & Mitzvah: Daily Practices for Reclaiming Judaism through Prayer, God, Torah, Hebrew, Mitzvot and Peoplehood. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-1580232562
- Singer, Shmuel. A Parent's Guide to Teaching Children Mitzvot: A Halakhic Guide. New York: Ktav Publishing House, 1990. ISBN 978-0881253672
External links
All links retrieved November 9, 2022.
- Taryag: "Origin" of 613 Commandments by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach – Ohr Somayach International
- List of the 613 Mitzvot – Judaism 101
- The 613 Mitzvot According to Sefer Hamitzvot of Rambam – Jewish Virtual Library
- List of Maimonides Positive Commandments – Chabad.org
- List of Maimonides Negative Commandments – Chabad.org
- “Mitzvah; Mitzvot” – Chabad.org
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