Mitzvah #223- First day Sukkoth is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the first day of Sukkoth.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on first day... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:36)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 153

- Danny
Wednesday, 22 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #222 - Abstaining from food and drink on Yom Kippour

It is forbidden to eat or drink on Yom Kippour.

By Rabbinic decree it is also forbidden to wash, anoint, wear leather shoes and have marital relations on Yom Kippour.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "for who ever does not fast... will be cut off" (Vayikra 23:29)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 152

- Danny
Monday, 20 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #221 - When is it a Mitzva to unload a donkey?

If one sees a donkey collapsed under it's heavy load, it's a Mitzva to help the donkey-driver unload the animal.

Even if the load was excessive it's a Mitzva to help.

Unloading the animal must be done without asking for remuneration.

If - after reloading the donkey - it again collapses, it's a Mitzva to help unload again, and again.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "When you see your fellow man's donkey collapsing under its load... you shall surely help him" (Shmot 23:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 70

- Danny
Sunday, 19 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #220 - Yom Kippour is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on Yom Kippour.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..and all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:28)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 151

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 16 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #219 - Rosh Hashana is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the first day of Rosh Hashana.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on first day of the seventh month... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 150

- Danny
Wednesday, 15 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #218 - Lost property

It's a Mitzva to return a fellow Jew's lost property.

If one found an item that is below one's dignity to pick up - and even if it was one's own property one would leave it on the street - then one need not deal with it. However, it's appropriate to anyway deal with it.

Since it's a Mitzva to return a person's earthly property, then it's definitely a Mitzva to return a person's spiritual property; the Torah which is our heritage.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...you shall surely return them your fellow man" (Devarim 22:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 69

- Danny
Tuesday, 14 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #217 - Shavuoth is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on Shavuoth.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 15th of the first month... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:21)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 149

- Danny
Monday, 13 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #216 - Last day Pessach is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the last day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 7th day... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 148

- Danny
Sunday, 12 Elul 5770

Erratum: A Peruta is only 0.025 grams of pure silver; currently less than 2 US pennies.

Mitzvah #215 - First day Pessach is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the first day of Pessach.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 15th of the first month... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:6)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 147

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 9 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #214 - Returning stolen objects

Items that one stole need to be returned to their rightful owners, if their worth is more than a Peruta. (0.025 grams of pure silver; currently less than 2 US pennies.)

If the person one stole from died, one returns the objects to their Halachic heirs.

If the stolen objects are no longer in one's possession, one returns their value.

Included on this Mitzva is returning money that one overcharged.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "and he should return the stolen objects that he stole" (Vayikra 5:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 68

- Danny
Wednesday, 8 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #213 - Replicating the Ketoret incense

One may not produce incense using the recipe used to make the Ketoret used twice daily in the Bet HaMikdash (Temple).

It is forbidden to make ¼, ½ or ¾ or any other ratio of the recipe.

If it is made for its aroma, it's forbidden even if it was not subsequently used. One is permitted to make Ketoret for study-purposes only.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..and the Ketoret incense... do not make for yourself" (Shmot 20:37, 38)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 146

- Danny
Tuesday, 7 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #212 - Replicating the Anointing Oil

It's forbidden to make scented oil using the recipe used for the Anointing Oil as described in Shemot Ch. 30, which was used by Moshe Rabbeinu to anoint the Mishkan and the Cohanim.

This is forbidden only if one intends to use the oil as lotion. If one simply wants to learn how the Anointing Oil was made, then it's permitted to make it.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "..and it's recipe do not replicate" (Shemot 30:32)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 145

- Danny
Monday, 6 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #211 - Adjudicate the Torah way

It's a Mitzva to adjudicate business disputes using the Halachot set down by the Torah.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "When you buy from fellow man or sell to him..." (Vayikra 25:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 67

- Danny
Sunday, 5 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #210 - Graven images

Making sculptures of the human head (with or without the body) is forbidden and is punishable by 39 lashes from Bet Din.

Drawing and engravings of heads are permitted.

Rings with seals of human heads:

- If the image is engraved, one may own it, but one may not affix a seal with it, since the seal will have an embossed head on it.

- If the image is embossed, one may not own it, but one may affix a seal with it, since the seal will have an engraved image on it.

One may not draw, engrave or emboss the likeness of the sun or moon.

One is permitted to draw, engrave and emboss animals, trees and plants.

One may not build a building with the same measurements as the Bet HaMikdash.

One may not make a table identical to the one used in the Bet Hamikdash.

One may not make a 7-branched Menorah out of any metal.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "You shall not make..." (Shmos 20:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 144

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 2 Elul 5770

Please daven for the complete recovery of Sara bat Hodda who will be going for a bone marrow transplant today

Mitzvah #209 - Birth control

Any procedure that prevents a male from reproducing is forbidden.

This applies to male humans and to male animals, both Kosher and non-Kosher animals.

The prohibition includes using medication as well as surgical procedures done by either males and females.

One may not even ask a non-Jew to neuter one's animal, though one may buy a neutered animal.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut... and don't do so in your land." (Vayikra 22:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 143

- Danny
Wednesday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5770

Mitzvah #208 - Pay wages on time

It's a Mitzva to pay a worker's wages on the day they are due.

To fulfill this Mitzva:

- A day worker needs to be paid before the next morning.

- A night worker needs to be paid before the end of the following day.

- An hourly worker who worked during the day needs to be paid on that day; if he worked during the night he needs to be paid during that night.

Applies to wages as well as to rental fees for equipment.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Pay wages on that day" (Devorim 24:15)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 66

- Danny
Tuesday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5770

Mitzvah #207 - Crossbreeding animals

It is forbidden to crossbreed different species of animals or birds.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "Your animals you may not crossbreed" (Vayikra 19:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 142

- Danny
Monday, 29 Av 5770

Erratum: A Cohen is NOT allowed to become ritually impure - except for his parents, his father's sons and unmarried daughters, his own children and his wife.

Mitzvah #206 - Keep the Cohen away from corpses

A Cohen is not allowed to become ritually impure - except for his parents, his father's sons and unmarried daughters, his own children and his wife.

He may not touch nor carry corpses, nor be under the same roof nor hover over a corpse.

The same applies to body parts as well as to blood from a corpse.

A Cohen who becomes ritually impure deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

A Cohen may help in the burial of a מת מצוה - if the burial will not happen without his assistance.

Applies everywhere, always, to Kosher male Cohanim, but not to a Chalal

Verse: "He may not become impure for a non relative" (Vayikra 21:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 141

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Av 5770

Mitzvah #205 - A Cohen cannot marry a divorcee

A Cohen is not allowed to marry a divorcee; if he does then their children are Chalalim and he deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

By Rabbinic decree a Cohen is prohibited from marrying a widow whose husband died without offspring and she underwent Chalitza by a surviving brother.

Applies to Cohanim, everywhere, always

Verse: "And a woman divorced from her husband he may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 140

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 25 Av 5770

Mitzvah #204 - Eat and work?

It's a Mitzva for the farmer to allow his workers to eat from the fruit they are picking.

This applies to any work being done on produce, fruit and vegetables that have not been picked yet.

The worker may eat from the tree or from the fruit he already picked - as long as it hasn't been processed to the point where one would need to separate Trumot and Maasrot.

A watchman may not eat from the fruit he is guarding, as his job does not directly involve the fruit on the tree.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "When coming into your friends' vineyard, you may eat..." (Devarim 23:25-26)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 65

- Danny
Wednesday, 24 Av 5770

Mitzvah #203 - Can a Cohen marry a Chalala?

If a Cohen has a daughter from a woman he is not allowed to marry, that daughter has the status of Chalala. (The sons have the status of Chalal.)

Any woman who may not marry a Cohen yet has relations with a Cohen gets the status of Chalala.

A Cohen is not allowed to marry a Chalala.

Applies to Cohanim, everywhere, always.

Verse: "A Chalala... they [the Cohanim] may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 139

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Av 5770

Mitzvah #202 - Who can a Cohen marry?

A Cohen may not marry a Zonah.

A Zonah being defined as:

- A woman who was not born Jewish, or

- A woman who had relations with a man she may not marry, or

- A woman who had relations with a Challal; a child born from a Cohen marrying a Zonah

A child born out of wedlock may marry a Cohen if her parents were permitted [by Halacha] to get married.

Applies to Cohanim ,everywhere, always

Verse: "A Zonah... they [the Cohanim] may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 138

- Danny
Monday, 22 Av 5770

Mitzvah #201 - Shmita cancels debts

If a loan was not repaid during the Shmita (7 year cycle) year, then it's a Mitzva for the creditor to forgo his debt.

If the debtor does return the debt after Shmita, the creditor may not accept it. He must say "I forgo the debt because of Shmita".

If the debtor insists and says "nevertheless", the creditor may accept the money.

Applies to everybody, everywhere. From the Torah only when the Yovel (50 year) cycle is being counted, by Rabbinic decree always.

Verse: "All creditors shall release their debt" (Devorim 15:1)

One may write a Prozbul to prevent having to forfeit the loan because of Shmita. (See Halocho-a-Day for details.)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 64

- Danny
Sunday, 21 Av 5770