Mitzvah #266 - Hunting birds

If one finds a bird roosting on her eggs or hatchlings, it is forbidden to capture her.

(Compare to Mitzva 232 - http://mitzvoh.blogspot.com/2010/09/mitzvah-232-free-eggs.html)

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "...do not take the mother when she is roosting on the eggs" (Devarim 22:6)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 189

- Danny
Wednesday, 3 Kislev 5771

Mitzvah #265 - Let the animals eat while they work

It is forbidden to prevent an animal from eating while it works - especially from the produce it is working with.

One may not muzzle the animal even before starting to work. One may not even yell at it to prevent it from eating.

This is true even if the animal belongs to a non-Jew.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not muzzle an ox while it's threshing" (Devarim 25:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 188

- Danny
Tuesday, 2 Kislev 5771

Mitzvah #260 - Ignoring animals in distress

If one sees an animal that has collapsed under its burden, one may not ignore it and choose not to assist unloading it.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "When seeing the animal collapse under it's burden, you may not ignore it" (Devarim 22:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 183

- Danny
Tuesday, 25 Marcheshvan 5771

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 #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 #210 - Graven images

Making sculptures of the human head (with or without the body) is forbidden and is punishable by 39 lashes from Bet Din.

Drawing and engravings of heads are permitted.

Rings with seals of human heads:

- If the image is engraved, one may own it, but one may not affix a seal with it, since the seal will have an embossed head on it.

- If the image is embossed, one may not own it, but one may affix a seal with it, since the seal will have an engraved image on it.

One may not draw, engrave or emboss the likeness of the sun or moon.

One is permitted to draw, engrave and emboss animals, trees and plants.

One may not build a building with the same measurements as the Bet HaMikdash.

One may not make a table identical to the one used in the Bet Hamikdash.

One may not make a 7-branched Menorah out of any metal.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "You shall not make..." (Shmos 20:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 144

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 2 Elul 5770

Please daven for the complete recovery of Sara bat Hodda who will be going for a bone marrow transplant today

Mitzvah #209 - Birth control

Any procedure that prevents a male from reproducing is forbidden.

This applies to male humans and to male animals, both Kosher and non-Kosher animals.

The prohibition includes using medication as well as surgical procedures done by either males and females.

One may not even ask a non-Jew to neuter one's animal, though one may buy a neutered animal.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut... and don't do so in your land." (Vayikra 22:24)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 143

- Danny
Wednesday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Elul 5770

Mitzvah #207 - Crossbreeding animals

It is forbidden to crossbreed different species of animals or birds.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "Your animals you may not crossbreed" (Vayikra 19:19)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 142

- Danny
Monday, 29 Av 5770

Erratum: A Cohen is NOT allowed to become ritually impure - except for his parents, his father's sons and unmarried daughters, his own children and his wife.

Mitzvah #174 - Chop off its head

One who does not want to redeem their firstborn male donkey with a sheep (as we learned in Mitzva #171), has a Mitzva to chop off it's head.

The Mitzva is to use an axe and chop the back of the neck until it dies.

Even after it's dead, it may not be used for anything and has to be buried.

Applies everywhere, always, to Israelites, since a donkey which belongs to a Cohen or Levi need not be redeemed.

Verse: "and if you don't redeem it then chop off its head" (Shemot 34:20)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 56

- Danny
Tuesday, 10 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #173 - Bestiality - Women

A woman who has sexual relations with an animal or bird gets stoned to death by Bet Din.

The animal or bird also gets stoned to death by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it" (Vayikra 18:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 118

- Danny
Monday, 9 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #172 - Bestiality - Men

A man who has sexual relations with an animal or bird gets stoned to death by Bet Din.

The animal or bird also gets stoned to death by Bet Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it" (Vayikra 18:23)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 117

- Danny
Sunday, 8 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #171 - Firstborn donkeys

A firstborn male donkey needs to be redeemed by giving a Cohen a sheep in its stead.

Even if the sheep costs a fraction of the price of the donkey, it can be used.

If one does not own a sheep, one can give the Cohen the monetary value of the donkey.

If the donkey belongs to a Cohen or Levi it need not be redeemed.

Applies to Israelites, everywhere, always

Verse: "...and a firstborn donkey redeem with a sheep" (Shemot 34:20) - "...the firstborns... shall be yours" (Bemidbar 18:15)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 55

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 5 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #164 - Firstborn Kosher animals

It's a Mitzva to sanctify all firstborn male Kosher animals, by declaring "This animal is Kadosh".

Even if one did not do so, the animal is still holy.

Nowadays first born Kosher male animals have to be given to a Cohen who can eat them after they becomes permanently blemished.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Sanctify for Me all firstborn... animals" (Shemot 13:1)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 53

- Danny
Tuesday, 26 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #161 - First shearing is given to the Cohen

If one shears 5 or more sheep and the wool of each sheep is at least 12 Sela (about 170 gram or 6 oz.) then one gives 1/60th of the total to a Cohen.

This gift - known as Reishith haGez - has no sanctity and the Cohen can do with it whatever he wants.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always according to some opinions, while others are lenient and say it does not apply nowadays.

Verse: "..and the first shearing shall be given to him" (Devarim 18:4)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 52

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 21 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #160 - Redeeming a firstborn Kosher animal

It is forbidden to redeem a firstborn male Kosher animal.

It has to be given to a Cohen, who may sell it, but the buyer has to continue treating it with all the laws of a firstborn.

If the firstborn is blemished permanently, it may be sold live or slaughtered, but not in the meat market.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "but the first born ox... shall not be redeemed" (Bemidbar 18:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 109

- Danny
Wednesday, 20 Sivan 5770

Mitzvah #159 - Slaughtering cow and calf

One may not slaughter a Kosher animal and its offspring on the same day.

If one did, both animals are still Kosher and may be eaten.

The day starts and ends at nightfall:

- If the mother was slaughtered at night, the calf may not be slaughtered the following day.

- If the calf was slaughtered before sunset, the mother may be slaughtered later that evening.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "And whether it be cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and her young both in one day" (Vayikra 22:28)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 108

- Danny
Tuesday, 19 Sivan 5770

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 #150 - Covering the blood

After slaughtering birds or Kosher wild animals (like deer) one has to cover their blood with sand or earth.

There needs to be a layer of sand or dirt on the ground onto which one slaughters, so that the blood will be covered below as well as above.

There is no Mitzva to cover the blood of domesticated animals such as sheep, cows and goats.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...and slaughter it and cover its blood" (Vayikra 18:13)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 49

On Shavu'ot we celebrate the giving of the Torah. Help spread Torah learning by inviting your Jewish friends to our Mitzva a Day group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140905878541
Thanks

- Danny
Monday, 4 Sivan 5770 - 48th day of the Omer

==> Please daven for a complete recovery for Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה <==

Mitzvah #146 - Shechita - Ritual slaughter

It's a Mitzva to slaughter all animals and birds that one wants to eat.

The laws of slaughtering the Kosher way - Shechita - were given to Moshe on Mt. Sinai as part of the Oral Law.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Slaughter your sheep and cattle... as I have commanded you" (Devarim 12:21)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 48

- Danny
Tuesday, 27 Iyar 5770 - 42nd day of the Omer