Mitzvah #255 - Women cross-dressing

Women are forbidden to wear clothing or jewelry that is specifically for men.

A woman may not have a "man's haircut".

This Halacha is location-specific; the norm of the place you are in, defines what is "masculine".

Applies to women, always, everywhere.

Verse: "A woman should not wear man's clothing" (Devarim 22:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 178

- Danny
Tuesday, 18 Marcheshvan 5771

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Mitzvah #64 - Denying a wife her rights

A husband is forbidden to deny his wife her Torah-given rights: food, clothes and conjugal rights.

One who denies his wife any of these has transgressed.

By Rabbinic decree a husband owes his wife another 7 rights, as needed: Her Ketuba, medical attention, redeeming her from captivity, a decent burial, the use of his estate as long as she's widowed, her daughters' use of the estate until they get married, her dowry get bequeathed only to her descendants.

Applies to husbands, everywhere, always.

Verse: "He may not deny his wife her food, clothing and conjugal rights" (Shemot 21:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 42

- Danny
Sunday, 17 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #39 - Learn and teach Torah

It's a Mitzva to learn Torah so that one has comprehensive knowledgeable of all of it.

It's a Mitzva to teach the entire Torah to ones sons. If needed on can hire a teacher to do so.

Applies to all males all the time, everywhere.

Women are exempt from Torah learning, however, a father should ensure his daughters are well versed in all Halachot that apply to them.

Pasuk: "And teach it well to your sons" (Devorim 6:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 14

- Danny
Sunday, 12 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #36 - Grace after meals

It's a Mitzva to say Birkat HaMazon after eating bread and being sated.

Before eating one obviously has to make a blessing; if one has to bless when sated, all the more so when still hungry.

Applies everywhere, always, to men, and maybe also to women.

By Rabbinic decree it's a Mitzva for everybody to say Birkat HaMazon even after eating a Kezayit (olive's worth) of bread.

Pasuk: "and you shall eat, be sated and bless" (Devorim 8:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 13

- Danny
Tuesday, 7 Kislev 5770