Mitzvah #158 - The foreleg, jaw and maw

It's a Mitzva to give a Cohen the right foreleg, lower jaw with the tongue and the maw (the last of cow's 4 stomachs) of any Kosher animal that is slaughtered.

The Cohen may eat them, or sell them to anybody, or feed them to the dogs, since they have no Kedusha (sanctity).

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always according to some opinions, while others are lenient and say it does not apply nowadays.

Verse: "and you shall give the Cohen the foreleg, jaw and maw" (Devarim 18:3))

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

- Danny
Monday, 18 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #157 - Sowing mixtures - Kil'ayim

In Israel, one is forbidden from sowing a mixture of 2 or more different types of grains together. Outside of Israel this is permitted.

Grafting branches from one type of tree onto another, is forbidden everywhere.

Grafting trees with vegetables is forbidden everywhere.

The produce from all the above is always permitted.

-

Planting vines in the vicinity of grains is forbidden everywhere, and one is forbidden from benefiting and eating the grains or the grapes.

Deriving benefit from this is a Torah prohibition in Israel, and Rabbinic outside of Israel.

-

Applies to everybody, always.

Verse: "Do not sow your field with a mixture" (Vayikra 19:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 107

- Danny
Sunday, 17 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #156 - Do not eat with the blood

One is forbidden to eat in the manner of a rebellious son, in a gluttonous and drunken way, as this may lead to bloodshed.

It's also forbidden to eat from an animal after it was slaughtered before it's completely dead.

It's also forbidden to eat a meal before morning prayers; before having prayed for one's life.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not eat on the blood" (Vayikra 19:26)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 106

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 14 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #155 - Orlah; the first 3 years

One may not eat fruit from a tree during its first 3 years after being planted.

In Israel: if one is unsure if the tree is more than 3 years old, the fruit is forbidden.

Outside Israel: only fruit that definitely came from a tree in its first 3 years is forbidden.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "Three years it shall be forbidden, not to be eaten" (Vayikra 19:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 105

- Danny
Wednesday, 13 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #154 - Honor the Cohen

It's a Mitzva to ensure that the Cohen is ready to serve in the Bet Hamikdash - even against his will.
E.g.: One must ensure he doesn't come in contact with a corpse.

It's also a Mitzva to honor the Cohen: He reads first in the Torah, he should be served first at meals and he should be honored with the Zimun; to lead the Grace after meals.

The above applies to male Cohanim, even if they are handicapped and cannot serve in the Bet Hamikdash

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..and sanctify him" (Vayikra 21:8)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Mitzvah #153 - Chametz on Erev Pessach

One may not eat Chametz during that time when one could bring the Pessach sacrifice.

Therefore one who eats Chametz on Erev Pessach after noon deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

By Rabbinic decree one is forbidden to derive benefit from Chametz already two hours before midday, and one may not eat Chametz from as early as 3 hours before midday on Erev Pessach.

These hours are calculated by dividing the daylight hours by 12.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, on Erev Pessach afternoon.

Verse: "Do not eat on it Chametz" (Devarim 16:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 104

- Danny
Monday, 11 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #152 - Fresh grains before Pessach

Fresh grains from produce which sprouted roots before the 2nd day of Pessach may be eaten as soon as harvested.

Grain which was not planted before the 2nd day of Pessach, or had not yet taken root, may not be eaten until after the 2nd day of Pessach

Applies to the 5 types of grain, traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

At the time of the Bet Hamikdash, new grain becomes permitted after the Omer sacrifice is brought on the 2nd day of Pessach.

Nowadays, until the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt, new grain is forbidden the entire 2nd day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere according to some opinions; in Israel-only according to other opinions

Verse: "...and fresh grain do not eat until this day" (Vayikra 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 103

- Danny
Sunday, 10 Sivan 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

  Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Mitzvah #151 - Roasted grain before Pessach

Roasted grain from produce which sprouted roots before the 2nd day of Pessach may be eaten as soon as it's harvested.

Roasted grain from produce which was not planted before the 2nd day of Pessach, or had not yet taken root, may not be eaten until after the 2nd day of Pessach

Applies to the 5 types of grain, traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

At the time of the Bet Hamikdash, new grain becomes permitted after the Omer sacrifice is brought on the 2nd day of Pessach.

Nowadays, until the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt, new grain is forbidden the entire 2nd day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere according to some opinions; in Israel-only according to other opinions

Verse: "...and roasted kernels and fresh grain do not eat until this day" (Vayikra 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 102

Chag Shavuoth Same'ach

- Danny
Tuesday, Erev Shavuoth, 5 Sivan 5770 - 49th day of the Omer

Please daven for a complete recovery for Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Mitzvah #150 - Covering the blood

After slaughtering birds or Kosher wild animals (like deer) one has to cover their blood with sand or earth.

There needs to be a layer of sand or dirt on the ground onto which one slaughters, so that the blood will be covered below as well as above.

There is no Mitzva to cover the blood of domesticated animals such as sheep, cows and goats.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...and slaughter it and cover its blood" (Vayikra 18:13)

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

On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Mitzva a Day group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140905878541
Thanks

- Danny
Monday, 4 Sivan 5770 - 48th day of the Omer

==> Please daven for a complete recovery for Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה <==

Mitzvah #149 - Bread from new flour before Pessach

Bread made from grain that sprouted roots before the 2nd day of Pessach may be eaten as soon as it's harvested.

Bread made from grain that was not planted before the 2nd day of Pessach, or had not yet taken root, may not be eaten until after the 2nd day of Pessach

Applies to the 5 types of grain, traditionally translated as "wheat, barley, spelt, oats and rye".

At the time of the Bet Hamikdash, new grain becomes permitted after the Omer sacrifice is brought on the 2nd day of Pessach.

Nowadays, until the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt, new grain is forbidden the entire 2nd day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere according to some opinions; in Israel-only according to other opinions

Verse: "And bread and roasted kernels and fresh grain do not eat until this day" (Vayikra 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 101

- Danny
Sunday, 3 Sivan 5770 - 47th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #148 - Eating parthenogenetically produced creatures

One may not eat creatures produced by parthenogenesis; meaning they do not come from a male and female mating.

One who eats an olive-size worth of such creatures deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not defile yourselves with parthenogens which crawl on the ground" (Vayikra 11:44)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 100

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 29 Iyar 5770 - 44th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #147 - Eating water bugs

One may not eat aquatic insects including frogs and crabs.

One who eats an olive-size worth of aquatic insects, or one who eats an entire aquatic insect deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Don't defile yourselves with any worm" (Vayikra 11:43)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 99

- Danny
Wednesday, 28 Iyar 5770 - Yom Yerushalayim - 43rd day of the Omer

Mitzvah #146 - Shechita - Ritual slaughter

It's a Mitzva to slaughter all animals and birds that one wants to eat.

The laws of slaughtering the Kosher way - Shechita - were given to Moshe on Mt. Sinai as part of the Oral Law.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Slaughter your sheep and cattle... as I have commanded you" (Devarim 12:21)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 27 Iyar 5770 - 42nd day of the Omer

Mitzvah #145 - Don't eat fruit worms

One may not eat insects that grow in fruit, vegetables or grain.

One who eats an olive-size worth of such insects, or one who eats an entire insect deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "All creepy thing on earth don't eat" (Vayikra 11:42)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 98

- Danny
Monday, 26 Iyar 5770 - 41st day of the Omer

Mitzvah #144 - Don't eat bugs

One may not eat insects that do not fly, including snakes.

One who eats an olive-size worth of insects or snakes, or one who eats an entire insect or snake - even if less than an olive-worth deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Creepy crawling bugs are disgusting, do not eat them" (Vayikra 11:41)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 97

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Iyar 5770 - 40th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #143 - Circumcision - Brit Mila

It's a Mitzva for a father to circumcise his son when he is 8 days old.

The Brit Mila must be done during the day.

If the newborn is not 100% healthy then the Brit Mila is postponed.

If the Brit Mila is on time (on the 8th day) then it is done even on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippour.

A person who was not circumcised by his father needs to get himself circumcised when he grows up. If he dies without having done so, he deserves Karet.

Applies to men, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 8th day he shall be circumcised" (Vayikra 12:3)

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

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 22 Iyar 5770 - 37th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #142 - Not eating Kosher flying insects

One may not eat flying insects, except for some Kosher grasshoppers.

One who eats an olive-size worth of flying insects, or one who eats an entire insect (no matter how small) deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din,

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Flying insects are impure to you, do not eat them" (Devarim 14:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 96

- Danny
Wednesday, 21 Iyar 5770 - 36th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #141 - Non-Kosher fish

One who eats fish which don't have fins and scales deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "don't have fins and scales.. don't eat them" (Vayikra 11:11)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 95

- Danny
Tuesday, 20 Iyar 5770 - 35th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #140 - Chalitza, an alternative to Yibum

If a childless widow and her late husband's brother do now want to get married, she must perform Chalitza.

Chalitza must be done in the presence of knowledgeable Rabbis. It consists of the widow and the brother saying certain verses after which she removes his right shoe and spits on the floor in front of him.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "If she does not want to marry him... she shall remove his shoe..." (Devarim 25:7)

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

- Danny
Monday, 19 Iyar 5770 - 34th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #139 - Non-Kosher birds

One who eats a non-Kosher bird or its eggs deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

The Torah gives us a list of non-Kosher birds.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..from the birds you shall not eat..." (Vayikra 11:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 94

- Danny
Sunday, 18 Iyar 5770 - 33rd day of the Omer