Mitzvah #257 - Ploughing with an ox and a donkey

It is forbidden to use an ox and a donkey, to pull a plough or a wagon together.

One who does any type of work using a Kosher and a non-Kosher animal at the same time, deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Even one who sits in a wagon drawn by an ox and a donkey deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not plough using an ox and a donkey" (Devarim 22:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 180

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 20 Marcheshvan 5771

Please daven for the complete recovery of Rivka bat Tirtzel.

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 #132 - Don't eat blood

There's a Mitzva to not eat the blood of any animal or bird.

One who eats blood on purpose deserves Karet. One who eats blood by mistake will need to bring a Korban-Chatat (sin offering) as soon as the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt.

Human blood is forbidden by Rabbinic decree, once it has separated from the body.

Blood from kosher fish and kosher grasshoppers is permitted.

Applies to everywhere, everybody, always

Verse: "Don't eat any blood... from fowl and animals" (Vayikra 7:26)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 89

- Danny
Wednesday, 7 Iyar 5770 22nd day of the Omer

Mitzvah #116 - Don't hate the Jews

One may not hate good Kosher Jews.

If somebody wrongs you, either forgive & forget, or else confront him and ask him to explain himself.

However, if you see a fellow Jew committing a sin, and you warned him and explained him the severity of his actions, and he continues to sin, then you have a Mitzva to hate him, since he's not behaving like a good Kosher Jew.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Do not hate your brother in your heart" (Vayikra 19:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 78

- Danny
Wednesday, 2 Nissan 5770

Mitzvah #2 - Do not eat the Gid haNasheh; the sciatic nerve

The sciatic nerve (Gid haNasheh) has to be removed from both hind legs before an animal is Kosher for eating.

Does not apply to birds.

While the sciatic nerve may not be eaten, it may be used for other purposes.


This Mitzva applies to males and females, everywhere at all times.

Pasuk: Therefore Bnei Yisrael don't eat the Gid haNasheh (Breishis 32:32)

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


- Danny
 13 Tishrei 5770