Mitzvah #84 - Don't be scared to make loans

At the end of the Shmita year - every 7 years - most types of loans are cancelled.

One who refrains from lending money based on the fear that they will not be paid back because the Shmita year will cancel the loan, has trangressed.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, when the Yovel 50-year cycle is in place.

Nowadays it's a Rabbinic - and not Torah - prohibition.

Verse: "Beware lest you refrain from loaning money since the Shmita year is approaching" (Devarim 15:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 56

- Danny
Sunday, 16 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #83 - Borrowing with interest

One may not borrow anything from a fellow Jew, if one is expected to repay more than the original loan.

This includes money, goods and even services.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Don't borrow with interest" (Devarim 23:20)

The borrower also transgresses "Do not put a stumbling block" (Vayikra 19:14), since he causes the lender to sin.

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 55

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 13 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #82 - Lending with interest

One may not lend anything to a fellow Jew if the repayment is larger than the loan.

This includes money, goods and even services.

The lender transgresses 4 sins.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not charge him interest" (Shmot 22:24, Vayikra 25:36; Vayikra 25:37, twice)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 54

- Danny
Wednesday, 12 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #81 - Refrain from work on Shavuoth

It's a Mitzva to not do Melacha (certain types of work) on Shavuoth.

Work involving food preparation is allowed, within certain parameters.

Lighting fires from an existing flame as well as carrying without an Eruv is allowed.

Outside Israel this applies to both days of Shavuoth, by Rabbinic decree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "This day shall be called Holy" (Vayikra 23:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 28

- Danny
Tuesday, 11 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #80 - Not to be involved with interest on loans

One is forbidden to be involved with a loan between Jews that will incur interest.

This includes being a witness or guarantor for the loan.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not be involved in charging him interest" (Shmot 22:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 53

- Danny
Monday, 10 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #79 - Requesting repayment of a loan

One is forbidden to ask a somebody to repay their loan if one knows they do not have the money to do so.

In such a case, one is not even allowed to purposely walk by him as a subtle reminder.

Verse: "Do not insist on the money" Shmot 22:24

Similarly, a debtor may not tell the creditor to "come back later" if he already has the money to pay, as it says in Mishle (3:28) "Don't say to your friend return and tomorrow I will pay, if you have what to give."

It's also forbidden for the debtor to squander the loan, for if he doesn't repay it he is called "wicked" as it says in Tehilim (37:21) "A wicked debtor who doesn't repay".

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 52

- Danny
Sunday, 9 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #78 - Refrain from work on last day of Pessach

It's a Mitzva to not do Melacha (certain types of work) on the last day of Passover.

Work involving food preparation is allowed, within certain parameters.

Lighting fires from an existing flame as well as carrying without an Eruv is allowed.

Outside Israel this applies to the 7th and 8th days of Pessach, by Rabbinic decree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: 'The 7th day shall be Holy" (Vayikra 23:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 27

Shabbat Shalom
- Danny

Thursday, 6 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #77 - Being nasty to a widow or orphan

Besides for the prohibition of being nasty to all Jews, there's an added prohibition of being nasty to widows or orphans.

Even wealthy and famous widows need to be treated with extra care; one must speak extra kindly to them and be careful about squandering their money.

The Torah warns us that one who strikes or is nasty to a widow or orphan will invoke Hashem's anger "and I will kill you by the sword and your wives will be widows and your children orphans". (Shmot 22:23)

An orphan - even one who lost only one parent - is considered an orphan until they grow up and become financially independent.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere.

Verse: "and don't be nasty to the the widow and orphan" (Shmot 22:21)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 51

- Danny
Wednesday, 5 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #76 - Cheating a convert

It is forbidden to overcharge a convert.

This is in addition to the prohibition of overcharging all Jews.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "And don't cheat him" (Shmot 22:20)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 50

- Danny
Tuesday, 4 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #75 - Count the Omer

There's a Mitzva to count 7 week from the time the Omer sacrifice was brought in the Bet Hamikdash.

The Omer is counted every night, starting from the second night of Pessach - 16 Nissan.

One needs to count both days and week.

The counting should be done standing, and a Bracha is said beforehand.

Applies to males, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Count 7 complete weeks" (Vayikra 23:15)

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

- Danny
Monday, 3 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #74 - Being nasty to a convert

It is forbidden to be nasty to a Ger - a convert to Judaism.

This is in addition to the prohibition of being nasty to all Jews.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not be nasty to the convert" (Shmot 22:20)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 49

- Danny
Sunday, 2 Shvat 5770

Mitzvah #73 - Being nasty

One is forbidden to say things that cause another to feel bad.

Examples include reminding a repentant how he used to behave or asking somebody a question that you know he cannot answer, in order to cause him to feel stupid.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not be nasty one to another" (Vayikra 25:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 48

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 28 Tevet 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery of ריבה איילה בת עליזה - Reeba Ayala bat Aliza  - who recently gave birth and has an unidentified illness

Mitzvah #72 - Refrain from work on first day Pessach

It's a Mitzva to not do Melacha (certain types of work) on the first day of Passover.

Work involving food preparation is allowed, within certain parameters.

Lighting fires from an existing flame as well as carrying without an Eruv is allowed.

Outside Israel this applies to the first 2 days of Pessach, by Rabbinic decree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "The first day shall be a sacred Holiday" (Vayikra 23:7)

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

- Danny
Wednesday, 27 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #71 - Overcharging

It's forbidden to overcharge or cheat when doing business; buying or selling.

One who overcharges - even inadvertantly - needs to reimburse the cheated party.

Applies to everybody, everybody, always.

Verse: "Do not cheat one another" (Vayikra 25:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 47

- Danny
Tuesday, 26 Tevet 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery of 3 year old Chaim Ovadya ben Sara

Mitzvah #70 - Cursing parents

One who curses their mother or father using the name of Gcd get puts to death by Beth Din by stoning.

This is true even if the parent is no longer alive.

One who curses their mother or father without using the name of Gcd gets 39 lashes by Beth Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "One who curses his father or mother shall surely die" (Shemot 21:17)

One who belittles or denigrates a parent - even if not explicitly - is cursed by Hashem, as it says "Cursed is he who belittles his father or mother."

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 46

- Danny
Monday, 25 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #69 - Story time - the Hagada

It's a Mitzva to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt on Seder night.

The story must be told at a level appropriate to the child's age.

Even one who does not have children has a Mitzva to tell the story.

Applies to everybody, everywhere on Seder night

Verse: "Tell your children on that day" (Shemot 13:8)

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

- Danny
Sunday, 24 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #68 - Cursing others

Cursing another Jew is forbidden; even one who doesn't hear the curse or who cannot hear the curse.

One may not even curse oneself.

One who curses another using the name of Gcd - even in English - deserves 39 lashes from Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not curse the deaf" (Vayikra 19:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 45

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach,

- Danny
Thursday, 21 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #67 - Striking parents

It is forbidden to strike one's father or mother.

One who strikes a parent and wounds them deserves to get put to death by Bet Din by strangulation.

Drawing blood for medical purposes from parents is forbidden unless there is nobody else competent available.

This prohibition is besides the prohibition of striking any Jew - even without wounding them.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "One who strikes his father or mother shall be killed" (Shemot 21:15)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 44

- Danny
Wednesday, 20 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #66 - When is it a Mitzva to eat Matza?

It's a Mitzva to eat Matza on the first night of Pessach.

Matza can only be made from the "5 grains", traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

If a child is old enough to eat Matza, there's a Mitzva to educate him in the Mitzva and feed him some.

By Rabbinic decree one is forbidden to eat Matza on Erev Pessach, in order to have an appetite for it at night.

Applies to everybody, everywhere on Seder night.

Verse: "On that night you shall eat Matza" (Shemot 12:18)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #65 - Striking a fellow-Jew

It is forbidden to hit another Jew.

This is learned from the prohibition of Bet Din to give more than 39 lashes.

One who strikes another Jew needs to compensate him. If the compensation is less than a Peruta (a few cents) then Bet Din give him 39 lashes instead.

One who lifts his hand to strike a fellow Jew - even if he didn't strike - is called "wicked".

Parents and teachers who hit their children and students for educational purposes when appropriate, do not transgress this Mitzva.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not strike him more" (Devorim 25:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 43

- Danny
Monday, 18 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #64 - Denying a wife her rights

A husband is forbidden to deny his wife her Torah-given rights: food, clothes and conjugal rights.

One who denies his wife any of these has transgressed.

By Rabbinic decree a husband owes his wife another 7 rights, as needed: Her Ketuba, medical attention, redeeming her from captivity, a decent burial, the use of his estate as long as she's widowed, her daughters' use of the estate until they get married, her dowry get bequeathed only to her descendants.

Applies to husbands, everywhere, always.

Verse: "He may not deny his wife her food, clothing and conjugal rights" (Shemot 21:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 42

- Danny
Sunday, 17 Tevet 5770