Mitzvah #239 - Monuments

One may not erect a stone monument - where the multitudes gather - for the sake of worship; be it idol worship or even worshipping Hashem.

One who erects such a monument deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not erect any monuments" (Devarim 16:22)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 162

- Danny
Monday, 26 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 #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 #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 #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 #94 - Cursing a judge

Besides for the prohibition of cursing any Jew, one may also not curse a Dayan - a judge in a Bet Din.

One who curses a Dayan with reference to Hashem gets two sets of 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Included in this verse is the prohibition of cursing Gcd; one who transgresses gets stoned to death by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not curse the judge" (Shemot 22:26)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 63

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Sunday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Adar 5770

Mitzvah #44 - Swearing in vain

One is prohibited from swearing in vain. This includes 4 types of oaths:

- Swearing to change a fact. E.g.: that a boy is a girl, or a stone is gold

- Swearing for no reason. E.g.: that a stone is a stone

- Swearing to not a do a Mitzva that one is obligated to do

- Swearing to do the impossible. E.g.: To not sleep for 72 hours, or to not eat nor drink for a week.

One who swears in vain on purpose deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

One who makes an unnecessary Bracha has also transgressed this Mitzva.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not take Gcd's name in vain" - 3rd of the 10 commandments

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 29

- Danny
Sunday, 18 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #18 - Pray every day

It's a Mitzvah to pray to Hashem every day.

Prayer entails praising Hashem, then asking for ones needs and then thanking Hashem for all the kindness one has already received.

Praying requires concentrating on what one is saying, ignoring all else, and assuming one is standing in front of the Divine Presence.

One should not consider praying to be a burden that needs to be taken care of.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: ..and you should worship Him (Devarim 6:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 7

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 11 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #15 - Emulate Gcd's ways

One should make every effort to emulate Hashem's "personality".

Since Hashem is kind we should be kind.

Since Hashem is merciful we should be merciful.

Since Hashem overlooks our shortcomings, we should overlook other people's shortcoming.

So too with all other behaviors that we find are ascribed to Hashem in the Tanach and Medrash.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, all the time.

Pasuk: Walk in His ways (Dvarim 28:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 6

- Danny
8 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #13 - There is no other god besides for Gcd

It's a Mitzvah to not consider the existence of any other god besides for Hashem.


One who - Gcd forbid - entertains the existence of other deities, or entertains the existence of Hashem having partners, or considers Idol Worship to have any power, has denied a fundamental concept of Judaism.


One may not say or write anything which implies any of the above false possibilities. One must be prepared to die - or lose all ones money - rather than agreeing to any of the above.


Applies to everybody, all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: You shall have no other gods besides Him (2nd of the Ten Commandments - Shmot 20:3)

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

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny
Thursday, 4 Marcheshvan 5770

Mitzvah #9 - Fear the Lord

It's a Mitzvah to fear and be in awe of Hashem.


Fear and awe of Hashem is acquired by studying the awesome ways in which Hashem runs the world.


When one has the chance to do a sin and decides to refrain because Hashem watches everything we do, one has fulfilled the Mitzvah of fearing Hashem.


Applies to everybody all the time, everywhere.


Pasuk: You shall fear Hashem your Gcd (Dvarim 6:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 4

- Danny,
Sunday, 1st day Rosh Chodesh Marcheshvan, 30 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #6 - To Love Gcd

It's a Mitzvah to love Hashem with all ones heart, soul and resources.

The way to acquire this love is by studying His beautiful world. By appreciating the intricate and amazing ways the world is run one starts to appreciate what Hashem does for us, and to love him.

Included in this Mitzvah is to behave in such a way that other people also start to keep His Mitzvoth.

Applies to everybody all the time, everywhere.

Pasuk: And you shall love Hashem with all your heart, soul and resources. (Dvarim 6:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 3

- Danny,
 Wednesday, 26 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #4 - Hashem Ehad; Gcd is One and Unique

It's a Mitzvah to believe that Hashem is One and that He has no partners helping Him run the world.

One must believe that Hashem is One, and He does not have a physical aspect and has no "parts" to His being.

This is a fundamental belief of Judaism.

Applies all the time, to males and females everywhere. One fulfills it every time one thinks about it.


Pasuk: Shma Yisrael... Hashem Ehad (Dvarim 6:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 2

- Danny
 23 Tishrei 5770

Mitzvah #1 - To Believe that Gcd exists

It's a Mitzvah to believe that Hashem exists and that He created all that exists and continues to supervise all of creation.

This is a fundamental belief of Judaism and one who doesn't believe this is not considered a full-fledged Jew.

This is one of the rare Mitzvoth for which one is required to give up ones life rather than transgress it.

This Mitzvah applies all the time to both males and females. One fulfills it every time one thinks about Hashem's existence.

Pasuk: "I am Hashem your Gcd"; the first of the 10 commandments.

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 1

- Danny
 12 Tishrei 5770