Mitzvah #237 - Remembering Amalek

It's a Mitzva to remember what Amalek did to us on the way out of Egypt.

The Mitzva is to mention his evil deeds and how he ambushed us, in order that we realize that we have to hate the nation of Amalek.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Remember what Amalek did to you..." (Devarim 25:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 76

Chag Same'ach; next Mitzva-a-Day after Sukkoth

- Danny
Wednesday, 14 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #236 - Kneeling

It is forbidden to make a stone floor to be used for bowing down, even if one is bowing to Gcd.

One who fully prostrates himself to Gcd on a stone floor deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Even simply kneeling on a stone floor to Gcd is forbidden.

On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippour one has to cover the stone floors in the synagogue (e.g. with a carpet or towel or paper) before bowing down.

One who kneels or prostrates himself in front of an idol, deserves to be stoned to death by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..and a stone floor do not put in your land to prostrate upon" (Vayikra 26:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 161

- Danny
Tuesday, 13 Tishrei 5771

==> If you don't live in Israel, add a reminder to your calendar for Eruv Tavshilin for tomorrow and for next week,.

Mitzvah #235 - Deleting Mitzvot

It is forbidden to decide that a Mitzva is no longer applicable.

This applies to Mitzvot from the Written or the Oral law.

The Rabbis have permission to prevent people from doing a Mitzva under certain conditions, like forbidding to blow the Shofar on Shabbat to ensure that people will not transgress the Torah commandment of carrying in a public domain on Shabbat.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...and do not remove from them" (Devarim 13:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 160

- Danny

Monday, 12 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #234 - Is your house safe?

It's a Mitzva to put a fence around one's roof (if it's accessible) and to remove from one's property all possibility of anybody getting hurt.

Included is fencing-in pools, pits and reservoirs and not owning a dangerous dog.

The fence needs to be at least 10 Tefachim high (~80 cm - 32") and strong enough that people can lean on it safely.

One can fulfill this Mitzva daily by inspecting one's property for anything dangerous that needs attention.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "You shall make a fence for your roof, and not have anything dangerous in the house" (Devarim 22:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 75

- Danny
Sunday, 11 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #233 - Inventing a new Mitzva

One may not add new Mitzvot to the existing 613 that Gcd commanded us.

Even declaring a Rabbinic-Mitzva to be Torah-ordained is forbidden.

If a Cohen adds a blessing to the 3-fold priestly blessing he has transgressed this Mitzva.

The Rabbis are allowed to add safeguards, decrees and thanksgiving Mitzvot (like Chanukah and Purim) - as long as they don't declare them to be Torah-ordained.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not add to it" (Devarim 13:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 159

Shabbat Shalom and have an easy and meaningful fast

- Danny
Thursday, 8 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #232 - Free eggs!

If one chances upon a mother bird roosting on her eggs or her nestlings, and one wants to take the eggs or the nestlings, one has a Mitzva to first send away the mother bird.

The correct way to do this Mitzva is to pick up the bird and shoo her away.

If she returns and hovers over the nest before you take the eggs or nestlings, you have to send her away again and again - no matter how often she returns.

Only applies to Kosher birds that don't belong to anybody, eggs that are not yet fertilized and nestlings that cannot fly yet

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "You shall send away the mother bird, and take the offspring" (Devarim 22:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 74

- Danny
Wednesday, 7 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #231 - Obey the Torah sages

One is forbidden to stray from the rulings of the Bet Din HaGadol; the "supreme high court" that exists in the time of the Bet HaMikdash.

Judaism and the Mitzvoth are defined only by what Moshe wrote in the Torah and what how he explained it in the Oral Law; the Mishna and Talmud.

This includes everything our sages have taught us, as documented in the Talmud, as well as any rulings by qualified Rabbis

One who tries to change accepted Jewish law or customs against tradition, has transgressed this Mitzva.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not stray from what they tell you, neither right nor left" (Devarim 17:11)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 158

- Danny
Tuesday, 6 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #230 - Safeguarding holiness

It is forbidden to destroy anything that has Kedusha (sanctity). This includes damaging - even slightly - buildings and furniture belonging to a synagogue or Yeshiva.

It is also forbidden to erase any of the 7 Hebrew names of Gcd.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not do so unto Hashem your Gcd" (Devarim 12:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 157

- Danny
Monday, 5 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #229 - Laws of inheritance

It's a Mitzva to bequeath one's estate using the laws of inheritance as defined in the Torah.

In a nutshell: When there are sons the daughters have no share in the estate. If there are no sons - or descendants of the sons - then the order is: daughters and her descendants, father, brothers.

Part of the Mitzva is that a firstborn son gets a double portion of the estate.

By Rabbinic decree a husband inherits his wife's estate.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "If a man dies without sons, his estate gets inherited by his daughters" (Bemidbar 27:8)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 73

- Danny
Sunday, 4 Tishrei 5771

Mitzvah #228 - Thinking the Jewish way

One may not think thoughts that could cause one to reject Judaism, nor thoughts that are immodest.

Since worshipping Gcd requires a clear head, it's important to control one's thoughts.

Included in this Mitzva is pursuing pleasure for the sake of pleasure, as opposed to relaxing with the purpose of having renewed energy for doing Mitzvot..

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not stray after your eyes and after your minds" (Bemidbar 15:39)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 156

With wishes for a Ketiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Wednesday, Erev Rosh Hashana 5770

==> Do a Mitzva: Call a friend and remind them to do Eruv Tavshilin - details at http://tinyurl.com/EruvTav

Mitzvah #227 - Setting the record straight: Rebuke

It's a Mitzva to rebuke a sinner by informing him which action was improper and that it's in his best interest to improve his ways, in order that he merit eternal bliss in Olam Haba - the world to come.

However, one may not embarrass the sinner, by rebuking them in the presence of other people.

One need only rebuke those people who might listen to the rebuke and stop sinning.

Conversely, it's a Mitzva to accept rebuke and to love the person doing the rebuking.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "You shall surely rebuke your fellow man" (Vayikra 19:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 72

- Danny
Tuesday, 28 Elul 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for Chava Ahuva bas Glika

==> Add a reminder to your calendar to do Eruv Tavshilin tomorrow <==

Mitzvah #226 - Setting a good example

Any behavior which causes a Chillul Hashem - a desecration of Gcd's name - is forbidden.

There are 3 aspects to this prohibition:

1. If one is being coerced to sin with the intention of profaning one's religion, then one has to be prepared to be killed rather than sin. In the case of idolatry, adultery and idol worship, even if the intention is not religiously oriented one has to be prepared to die rather than sin. One who sins rather than dies has done a Chillul Hashem.

2. One who does any sin merely for the sake of rebelling against Gcd, and not because he will benefit from the sin, has done a Chillul Hashem.

3. When a person who people look up to (like a Rabbi or teacher) does something which most people assume is wrong (even if technically it's permitted) then he has done a Chillul Hashem.

The sin of Chillul Hashem - desecrating Gcd's name - is so severe that Teshuva (repentance) and Yom Kippur are not sufficient to eradicate it; and only death completes the atonement.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not desecrate My Holy Name" (Vayikra 22:32)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 155

- Danny
Monday, 27 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #225 - Shmini Atzeret is not a work day

One may not do any Melacha (work as defined by the Rabbis) on the 8th day of Sukkoth; Shmini Atzeret.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "And the 8th day... all work you shall not do" (Vayikra 23:36)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 154

- Danny
Sunday, 26 Elul 5770

Mitzvah #224 - Help reload the animal

It's a Mitzva to help reload an animal - or porter - if their loads needs readjusting during transport.

One does not have to help unless one will be paid for one's effort.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "..you shall surely help him reload" (Devarim 22:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 71

- Danny
Thursday, 23 Elul 5770