Mitzvah #40 - Do not save the inciter

One may not rescue somebody who incites others to idol worship, even if the inciter's life is in danger.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Pasuk: "Do not have pity on him" (Devorim 18:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 26

- Danny
Monday, 13 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #39 - Learn and teach Torah

It's a Mitzva to learn Torah so that one has comprehensive knowledgeable of all of it.

It's a Mitzva to teach the entire Torah to ones sons. If needed on can hire a teacher to do so.

Applies to all males all the time, everywhere.

Women are exempt from Torah learning, however, a father should ensure his daughters are well versed in all Halachot that apply to them.

Pasuk: "And teach it well to your sons" (Devorim 6:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 14

- Danny
Sunday, 12 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #38 - Always hate the enticer

One may not stop hating a person who entices others to worship idols.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not heed him" (Devorim 18:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 25

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 9 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #37 - Do not love the enticer

One may not love a person who entices others to worship idols.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not love him" (Devorim 13:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 24

- Danny
Wednesday, 8 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #36 - Grace after meals

It's a Mitzva to say Birkat HaMazon after eating bread and being sated.

Before eating one obviously has to make a blessing; if one has to bless when sated, all the more so when still hungry.

Applies everywhere, always, to men, and maybe also to women.

By Rabbinic decree it's a Mitzva for everybody to say Birkat HaMazon even after eating a Kezayit (olive's worth) of bread.

Pasuk: "and you shall eat, be sated and bless" (Devorim 8:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 13

- Danny
Tuesday, 7 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #35 - Not enticing others to worship idols

It's forbidden to entice others - individuals or a group - to worship idols.

One who tries to persuade others to worship idols gets put to death by stoning, even if nobody actually worshiped idols.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "If he shall entice you... to worship foreign gods..." (Devorim 13:7-12)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 23

- Danny
Monday, 6 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #34 - Do not listen to false prophets

It's a Mitzva to not listen to those who utter prophesies in the name of idols.

One may not listen to them, engage them in dialogue or ask them for a sign or proof.

Even if they do a miraculous sign, one may not believe them, and anybody who suspects that they are true prophets has transgressed this Mitzva.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not listen to that prophet" (Devorim 13:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 22

- Danny
Sunday, 5 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #33 - Mezuza

It's a Mitzva to affix a Kosher Mezuza on all ones door posts.

The Mezuza includes the first 2 chapters of the Shma.

Whenever one passes by a Mezuza one should think about its content; the oneness of Hashem and our obligation to love Him.

The result should be an awakening to concentrate on doing Mitzvot and ignore the trivialities of this world.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "And write it and affix it to the doors of your home and gates" (Devorim 6:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 12

- Danny
Thursday, 2 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #32 - Don't imitate the non-Jews

It's a Mitzvah to not imitate the Goyim.

One should not follow their fashions in dress, hair style and shaving.

Somebody who needs to dress like them to appear before their royalty, may do so.

Pasuk: "and in their statutes don't walk" (Vayikra 18:3)

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 21

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Wednesday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #31 - Do not have pity on idol worshippers

One may not do any favors for an idol worshipper.

If he's drowning one may not jump in to save him, and if he's sick one may not heal him gratis. If one is paid, then one may.

It's forbidden to kill idol worshippers, except during a war.

One may not give them free gifts, nor sing their praises.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: "Don't be gracious to them" (Devorim 7:2)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 20

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Tuesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #30 - Read the Shma twice daily

It's a Mitzva to read the 3 chapters of the "Shma" twice daily; once in the morning and again at night.

The first chapter (Shma) mentions the Mitzvot of Hashem's oneness, loving Hashem and learning Torah.

The second chapter (VeHaya) mentions accepting the responsibility of keeping all the Mitzvot.

The third chapter (VaYomer - Tzitizit) mentions keeping all the Mitzvot as well as recalling the Exodus from Egypt.

Applies to males, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "And speak about it... when you arise in the morning and retire at night." (Devorim 6:7)

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

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Monday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev, 29 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #29 - Don't marry a non-Jew

One may not marry somebody who is not Jewish.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not get married with them" (Devorim 7:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 19

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #28 - Do not benefit from idols

One may not have any benefit from idols, their sacrifices, priests or anything else dedicated to them.

Some items are worshiped but are not man-made, like mountains, trees planted for their fruit, animals not bread for idol-worship.

If these items are subsequently worshipped, one may still benefit from them, but not from items found on them.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not bring repugnant items into your home" (Devorim 7:26) and "Don't retain anything from the shunned material" (ibid 13:18)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 18

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 25 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #27 - Tzitzit

It's a Mitzvah to put Tzitzit on all 4-cornered garments that are worn during the day.

Both wool garments and linen garments require Tzitzit from the Torah. Other garments require Tzitzit by Rabbinic decree.

Garments with more than 4 corners also require Tzitzit.

Applies to males, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Make for yourselves Tzitzit on the corner of your garments". (Bemidbar 15:38)

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

- Danny
Wednesday, 24 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #26 - An idol's ornaments are forbidden

One may not have any benefit from an idol's ornaments, jewelry and coverings.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not covet the gold and silver on them" (Devorim 7:25)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 17

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #25 - Don't pay attention to idols

One may not pay attention to specific idols.

Idols should not be the subject of our speech or thoughts, and one shouldn't gaze upon them.

One should not read their book nor investigate how they are worshipped.

Learning Halachot about idols, is allowed.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Don't pay attention to gods" (Vayikra 19:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 16

- Danny
Monday, 22 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #24 - Tefillin on ones head

It's a Mitzvah to put Tefillin on one's head.

The entire Tefillin must be placed above one's [original] hairline, and below the frontal ridge which is soft in babies.

Tefillin contain the 4 chapters in the Torah where Tefillin are written.

Applies to males, everywhere, every weekday.

Pasuk: "...it shall be as a sign between your eyes" (Devorim 6:8)

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

- Danny
 Sunday, 21 Marcheshvan 5770

Please daven for Marina bat Ludmila for a full recovery

Mitzvah #23 - Don't consume food sacrificed to idols

Food that was sacrificed to idols is forbidden.

One who eats, drinks or has any benefit from such food is given 39 lashes by Bet Din.

By Rabbinic Decree one may not drink any wine that was touched by a non-Jew, unless it was previously boiled.

One may also not eat at the wedding of an idol worshipper even if one brings one's own food and is served by a Jewish waiter.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Beware... lest he call you to eat from his sacrifices" (Shmot 34:15)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 15

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 18 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #22 - Not to persuade others to worship idols

One who persuades others to worship idols gets killed by stoning, even if he himself never worshipped idols.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: "... should not be spoken about by you" (Shmos 23:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 14

- Danny
Wednesday, 17 Marcheshvan 5770

Please daven for young Refael Chaim Simcha Binyamin ben Devorah Aliza, who has been fighting Leukemia the past 18 months and is having terrible reactions to the bone marrow transplant

Mitzvah #21 - Tefillin on ones arm

It's a Mitzva to tie Tefillin on one's left arm. Those born with mancinism put it on their right arm.

The correct place is on the elevated (muscle) part of the upper arm.

Applies to males, everywhere, every weekday.

Pasuk: "and tie them for a sign on your arm" (Devarim 6:8)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 16 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #20 - Not to swear in an idol's name

One may not swear by an idol's name.

One should not mention the name of an idol in one's conversations.

Even mentioning an idol as a landmark is forbidden. E.g. "please meet me next to [name of idol]".

One may mention idols mentioned in Sefarim (E.g.: Tanach or Gemara) like Pe'or and Nevo.

One may not cause others to swear in the name of an idol - including non-Jews.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: And the name of other gods do not mention (Shmos 23:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 13

- Danny
Monday, 15 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #19 - Don't serve idols

It's a Mitzvah not to worship idols in the manner they are normally worshipped.

Even of it's a disgraceful act - like throwing stones at Markulis - it's forbidden and the one who transgresses deserves to be stoned to death by Bet Din.

One who kisses or embraces an idol or who sweeps or washes it's room or otherwise shows it respect has transgressed.

One may not drink from water that is pouring out of the mouth of an idol-water-fountain, since it looks like one is kissing the idol.

Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.

Pasuk: ..and don't worship them... (2nd of the Ten Commandments - Shmot 20:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 12

- Danny
Sunday, 14 Marcheshvan 5770