Mitzvah #238 - Annihilating the wicked Amalek

It's a Mitzva to wipe out all descendants of Amalek.

Since nowadays we do not know who is a pedigreed descendant of Amalek, we are awaiting the arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi to enlighten us, after which we will wipe them out.

May we live to see the arrival of Eliyahui Hanavi speedily in our days.

Verse: "Erase all traces of Amalek" (Devarim 25:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 77


This completes the 77 positive Mitzvot which apply nowadays. For the full list go to http://mitzvoh.blogspot.com/search/label/Positive%20Mitzva?max-results=77

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Tishrei 5771

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 #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 #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 #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 #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 #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

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 #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 #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 #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 #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 #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 #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

Mitzvah #198 - Returning collateral

It's a Mitzva to return the collateral to the borrower , if and when he needs it.

Items needed at night - like bedding - must be returned at night and can be taken back in the morning.

Tools needed for his trade must be returned in the morning and can be taken back at night.

One who does not return the collateral when required loses this Mitzva and has also transgressed a prohibition, as per Mitzva #92 - http://mitzvoh.blogspot.com/2010/02/mitzvah-92-withholding-collateral.html

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "You shall surely return to him the collateral" (Devarim 24:13)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 16 Av 5770

Erratum to Mitzva #197: If a person dies without children, his widow is NOT allowed to marry anybody except for one of her late husband's brothers.

Mitzvah #194 - Lending money

It's a Mitzva to lend money to the poor.

This Mitzva is greater than giving charity.

If one has the money and refuses to lend it to the needy, one has sinned. (as per Devarim 15:9)

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "When you lend money to the poor..." (Shemot 22:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 62

- Danny
Wednesday, 10 Av 5770

Mitzvah #192 - Love the convert

Even though converts are full fledged Jews, it's a Mitzva to love converts up and above the Mitzva to love all Jews.

Included in this Mitzva is the Mitzva to love strangers; those who arrived recently from other countries or cities.

"Love" being defined as "treating them the way you would like to be treated in similar circumstances".

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And you shall love the convert" (Devarim 10:18 & 19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 61

- Danny
Sunday, 7 Av 5770

Mitzvah #189 - Love the Jews

It's a Mitzva to love all Jews.

As a result, one has to be as careful with other people's money and honor as with one's own.

Helping people get along with each other is included in this Mitzva

One who makes himself important by degenerating others, loses his portion in the World to Come.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Love your fellow Jew as yourself" (Vayikra 19:18)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 60

- Danny
Tuesday, 2 Av 5770

Mitzvah #184 - Cohen to become ritually unclean

Even though a Cohen is not usually allowed to become Tameh - ritually impure - by being in contact or under the same roof as a corpse, it's a Mitzva for him to do so for his close relatives.

The close relative are: parents, his father's sons and unmarried daughters, his own children and his wife.
Applies to male Cohanim, everywhere, always

Included in this Mitzva is the obligation for all Jews to "sit Shiva" and mourn their close relatives for a day.

By Rabbinic decree "Shiva" is extended to 7 days, 30 days for lesser mourning and 12 months of mourning for parents.

Verse: "To his mother, father, son, daughter, bother and unmarried sister... he shall become ritually impure" (Vayikra 21:2-3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 59

- Danny
Tuesday, 24 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #181 - Bless the nation

Every Cohen has a Mitzva to bless the Jews with the blessing:

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:  יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ: יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם

"May Hashem bless you, and guard you: May Hashem shine His face on you, and be gracious to you:  May Hashem lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Bemidbar 6:24 - 26)

If a Cohen does not go to up to bless the congregation when the leader calls out "Cohanim" (before the last Bracha in the Amida) he has missed doing this Mitzva.

Applies to Cohanim, always, everywhere.

Verse: "So shall you bless the children of Israel..." (Bemidbar 6:22)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 58

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 19 Tamuz 5770