Mitzvah #18 - Pray every day

It's a Mitzvah to pray to Hashem every day.

Prayer entails praising Hashem, then asking for ones needs and then thanking Hashem for all the kindness one has already received.

Praying requires concentrating on what one is saying, ignoring all else, and assuming one is standing in front of the Divine Presence.

One should not consider praying to be a burden that needs to be taken care of.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: ..and you should worship Him (Devarim 6:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 7

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 11 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #17 - Do not bow down to idols

It's a Mitzvah not to bow down to idols - even of it's not the way this particular idol is worshipped - since bowing down is the way we worship Hashem.

One who transgresses deserves to be stoned to death by Bet Din.

Similarly one may not offer sacrifices, incense or wine to an idol, since these are all ways we serve Hashem in the Bet Hamikdash; even if the idol is not normally worshipped in this manner.

One should agree to be killed rather than transgress any of the above.

If one dropped something, or one gets a thorn in ones foot in front of an idol, one should not bend down to take care of it, since it looks like one is bowing down to the idol. Rather one should turn around - or to the side.

Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.

Pasuk: ...do not bow down to them (2nd of the Ten Commandments - Shmot 20:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 11

- Danny
Wednesday, 10 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #16 - Do not manufacture idols

It's forbidden to make idols that will be worshipped - even for non-Jews to worship.

One who manufactures idols has transgressed and deserves 39 lashes.

One who manufactures an idol for himself has transgressed twice; this sin and Mitzvah #14 - Do not create your own idols.

Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.

Pasuk: You shall not make idols (Vayikra 19:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 10

- Danny
9 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #15 - Emulate Gcd's ways

One should make every effort to emulate Hashem's "personality".

Since Hashem is kind we should be kind.

Since Hashem is merciful we should be merciful.

Since Hashem overlooks our shortcomings, we should overlook other people's shortcoming.

So too with all other behaviors that we find are ascribed to Hashem in the Tanach and Medrash.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: Walk in His ways (Dvarim 28:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 6

- Danny
8 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #14 - Do not create your own idols

It's a Mitzvah not to create idols that one will worship.


One who makes an idol by himself, or who one asks somebody else to make him an idol to worship has transgressed and deserves 39 lashes.


Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: You shall not make for yourselves any idols (2nd of the Ten Commandments - Shmot 20:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 9

- Danny
Sunday, 7 Marcheshvan 5770

Remember to say ותן טל ומטר לברכה

Mitzvah #13 - There is no other god besides for Gcd

It's a Mitzvah to not consider the existence of any other god besides for Hashem.


One who - Gcd forbid - entertains the existence of other deities, or entertains the existence of Hashem having partners, or considers Idol Worship to have any power, has denied a fundamental concept of Judaism.


One may not say or write anything which implies any of the above false possibilities. One must be prepared to die - or lose all ones money - rather than agreeing to any of the above.


Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: You shall have no other gods besides Him (2nd of the Ten Commandments - Shmot 20:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 8

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 4 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #12 - Kiddush Hashem - Sanctify Gcd's name

One must be prepared to be killed - or lose all ones money - in order to publicize ones belief in Hashem and the Jewish laws.



One must be prepared to be killed rather than agree to convert to another religion. Even pretending to agree to convert - in order to save ones life - is forbidden.


One must be prepared to be killed rather than transgress any of the sins in the Torah publicly; i.e. in the presence of 10 Jews.


In private (without 10 Jews present) one must be be prepared to be killed rather than transgress one of the 3 cardinal sins: Idol worship, Adultery and Murder. This applies even if the request comes from somebody with altruistic - and not religious - reasons.


At a time of Shmad - when by law one may not be Jewish - one must be prepared to be killed rather than transgress any sin - even in private.


One who is killed in the presence of 10 Jews rather than transgressing (as above) has done a public Kiddush Hashem and has attained the highest level of worshipping Hashem that one can reach.


Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: I shall be sanctified amongst the Bnei Yisrael (Yavikra 22:32)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 5

- Danny

Wednesday, 3 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #10 - Do not do work on Shabbat

One may not do any of the 39 categories of forbidden work on Shabbat. (See http://www.answers.com/topic/39-categories-of-activity-prohibited-on-shabbat for a list.)


One also has to ensure that ones animals are not doing forbidden work.


Since the laws of Shabbat are numerous, complicated and are applicable every week, one should be sure to study them thoroughly and review them often.


Asking a non-Jew to do work for a Jew on Shabbat is forbidden by Rabbinic decree.


Saving lives takes precedence over Shabbat observance.


Shabbat is one of the bonds between Hashem and the Jewish people, and one who purposely transgresses the Shabbat publicly has the status of a non-Jew (for being counted in a Minyan or a Mezuman, touching wine, being a witness, etc.)


Applies to everybody, everywhere, every Shabbat.


Pasuk: Do not do any work (4th of the Ten Commandments, Shmot 20:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 6

- Danny

Monday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #11 - Don't walk too far outside the city on Shabbat

The Torah forbids one to walk more than 12 Meel (about 12 Km) beyond the city limit on Shabbat, (according to the Rambam and the Rif).


By Rabbinic decree one may only walk 2,000 Amot (about 2 Km) beyond the city limit on Shabbat, unless one extends it by another 2,000 Amot with an Eruv-Techumim.


Inside a city one may walk without limit.


Applies to everybody, everywhere, every Shabbat.

Pasuk: Nobody should leave their place on Shabbat (Shmot 15:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 7

- Danny

Tuesday, 2 Marcheshvan 5770

Written in memory of  Rivka bat Mordechai Ha-cohen

Mitzvah #9 - Fear the Lord

It's a Mitzvah to fear and be in awe of Hashem.


Fear and awe of Hashem is acquired by studying the awesome ways in which Hashem runs the world.


When one has the chance to do a sin and decides to refrain because Hashem watches everything we do, one has fulfilled the Mitzvah of fearing Hashem.


Applies to everybody all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: You shall fear Hashem your Gcd (Dvarim 6:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 4

- Danny,
Sunday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan, 30 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #8 - Not to eat food that contains Chametz on Pessach

During Pessach one may not eat any mixture of foods that include Chametz (leaven).


If the quantity that one ate included an olive-worth of Chametz, then one has transgressed this Mitzvah.


Applies to everybody, everywhere during Pessach.


Pasuk: Any mixture of Chametz do not eat (Shmot 12:20)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 5

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny,
 Erev Shabbat, 28 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #7 - Do not derive benefit from Chametz on Pessach

One may not eat nor drink Chametz (leaven) on Pessach.

One may not even derive benefit from Chametz during Pessach (e.g. by burning it and enjoying the heat).

One who eats an olive-worth of Chametz on Pessach on purpose, gets punished with the heavenly punishment of Karet. If one eats it accidentally one owes a Chatat-sacrifice when the temple will be rebuilt (speedily in our days).

Applies to everybody, everywhere during Pessach.

Pasuk: ...and do not eat Chametz... (Shemot 13:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 4

- Danny,
 Thursday, 27 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #6 - To Love Gcd

It's a Mitzvah to love Hashem with all ones heart, soul and resources.

The way to acquire this love is by studying His beautiful world. By appreciating the intricate and amazing ways the world is run one starts to appreciate what Hashem does for us, and to love him.

Included in this Mitzvah is to behave in such a way that other people also start to keep His Mitzvoth.

Applies to everybody all the time, everywhere.

Pasuk: And you shall love Hashem with all your heart, soul and resources. (Dvarim 6:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 3

- Danny,
 Wednesday, 26 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #5 - No Chametz should be found on Jewish property

No Chametz (leaven) should be located on Jewish property during the 7 days of Pessach. (8 days in the Diaspora.)

One who buys Chametz and hides it, or who makes Chametz-dough on Pessach, transgresses twice: once for seeing leaven and once for having it on his property.


Chametz belonging to a non-Jew for which one has no responsibility, may be allowed into one premises during Pessach.

Applies to males, females, everywhere during Pessach.

Pasuk: Seven days leaven should not be found in your homes (Shmos 12:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 3

- Danny
 25 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #3 - No Chametz should be seen on Jewish property during Pessach

No Chametz (leaven) is allowed to be seen on Jewish property during the 7 days of Passover. (Eight days in the Diaspora.)

This applies to Chametz belonging to a Jew, as well as Chametz belonging to a non-Jew for which the Jew is responsible for.

Applies to males and females everywhere, during Pessach.

Pasuk: No Chametz may be seen in your property... for seven days (Shmos 13:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 2

- Danny
 25 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #4 - Hashem Ehad; Gcd is One and Unique

It's a Mitzvah to believe that Hashem is One and that He has no partners helping Him run the world.

One must believe that Hashem is One, and He does not have a physical aspect and has no "parts" to His being.

This is a fundamental belief of Judaism.

Applies all the time, to males and females everywhere. One fulfills it every time one thinks about it.


Pasuk: Shma Yisrael... Hashem Ehad (Dvarim 6:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 2

- Danny
 23 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #2 - Do not eat the Gid haNasheh; the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve (Gid haNasheh) has to be removed from both hind legs before an animal is Kosher for eating.

Does not apply to birds.

While the sciatic nerve may not be eaten, it may be used for other purposes.


This Mitzva applies to males and females, everywhere at all times.

Pasuk: Therefore Bnei Yisrael don't eat the Gid haNasheh (Breishis 32:32)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 1


- Danny
 13 Tishrei 5770