Mitzvah #253 - Payot; the Torah haircut

One is forbidden to shave off the corners of the head of a Jewish male.

Even cutting them off with scissors is forbidden. Trimming them is allowed.

("The corners of the head" is the hair that grows in the triangular area from the top of the ear to the forehead to the sideburns all the way to the bottom of the skull near the hole in the ear.)

One who shaves off both corners has transgressed twice.

The one who does the shaving has transgressed; a woman's "corners" may be shaved, but a woman may not shave a man's "corners".

The one being shaved has not transgressed, unless he assists in the process.

It is also forbidden to shave a boy's "corners" - even if he is under Bar Mitzva.

Applies to everybody, on males only, everywhere, always.

Verse: "Do not round off the corners of your heads" (Vayikra 19:27)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 176

- Danny
Sunday, 16 Marcheshvan 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 #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 #205 - A Cohen cannot marry a divorcee

A Cohen is not allowed to marry a divorcee; if he does then their children are Chalalim and he deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din.

By Rabbinic decree a Cohen is prohibited from marrying a widow whose husband died without offspring and she underwent Chalitza by a surviving brother.

Applies to Cohanim, everywhere, always

Verse: "And a woman divorced from her husband he may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 140

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 25 Av 5770

Mitzvah #203 - Can a Cohen marry a Chalala?

If a Cohen has a daughter from a woman he is not allowed to marry, that daughter has the status of Chalala. (The sons have the status of Chalal.)

Any woman who may not marry a Cohen yet has relations with a Cohen gets the status of Chalala.

A Cohen is not allowed to marry a Chalala.

Applies to Cohanim, everywhere, always.

Verse: "A Chalala... they [the Cohanim] may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 139

- Danny
Tuesday, 23 Av 5770

Mitzvah #202 - Who can a Cohen marry?

A Cohen may not marry a Zonah.

A Zonah being defined as:

- A woman who was not born Jewish, or

- A woman who had relations with a man she may not marry, or

- A woman who had relations with a Challal; a child born from a Cohen marrying a Zonah

A child born out of wedlock may marry a Cohen if her parents were permitted [by Halacha] to get married.

Applies to Cohanim ,everywhere, always

Verse: "A Zonah... they [the Cohanim] may not marry" (Vayikra 21:7)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 138

- Danny
Monday, 22 Av 5770

Mitzvah #200 - Who can a Mamzer marry?

A Mamzer may marry another Mamzer or a convert - and their children will be Mamzerim - but they may not marry a regular Jew.

A Mazer is defined as:

- a child born from a forbidden relationship where the punishment is Karet, with the exception of Niddah.

- a child who has a parent who is a Mamzer.

A child found in the market whose parentage is unknown, or the child of an unmarried mother who doesn't know who the father is or she refuses to tell us who he is, is considered a Safek Mamzer and the child may only marry a convert.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "A Mamzer may not marry into the congregation..." (Devarim 23:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 137

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 18 Av 5770

Mitzvah #199 - Who can a castrated male marry?

If a male who's reproductive system has been injured - such that he can no longer beget children - marries a regular Jewess, they both get 39 lashes by Beth Din.

Such a person is allowed to marry a convert - even if he is a Cohen.

A man who was born with a non-functional reproductive system is not included in the above prohibition.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not marry into the congregation..." (Devarim 23:2)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 136

- Danny
Wednesday, 17 Av 5770

Mitzvah #197 - Marrying a childless widow

If a person dies without children, his widow is not allowed to marry anybody except for one of her late husband's brothers.

If somebody other than a brother marries her, they have both transgressed.

The prohibition applies until she does Chalitza with one of the brothers, as per positive Mitzvah #140 - Chalitza, an alternative to Yibum.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...the widow shall not be allowed to marry a non-brother..." (Devarim 25:5)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 135

- Danny
Monday, 15 Av 5770

Mitzvah #187 - Stepsister

One may not marry one's stepmother's daughter if one shares the same father.

One who has relationships with his father's daughter (even if she is not one's mother's daughter) gets punished by Karet.

One may marry one's stepsister if one doesn't share any biological parents.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...your father's wife's daughter..." (Vayikra 18:9)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 128

- Danny
Sunday, 29 Tamuz 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 #179 - Mother and her son's daughter

One may not marry a woman and her son's daughter.

One who marries a woman and then has relationships her father's mother or her son's daughter gets burned to death by Beth Din.

If his wife died and then then has relationships with her father's mother or her son's daughter he gets Karet.

By Rabbinic decree it's forbidden to have such relations even if neither women are married to him.

By Rabbinic decree this applies to great-grandchildren as well.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "...her son's daughter..." (Vayikra 18:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 122

- Danny
Tuesday, 17 Tamuz 5770
 

Please daven for a complete recovery of Pinchas ben Luba and his daughter Luba bat Ruth

Mitzvah #177 - Mother and daughter

One may not marry and woman and her daughter.

One who marries a woman and then has relationships her mother or daughter gets burned to death by Beth Din.

If his wife died and then then has relationships her mother or daughter he gets Karet.

By Rabbinic decree it's forbidden to have relations with a mother and daughter even if neither are married to him.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "The nakedness of a woman and her daughter you shall not uncover" (Vayikra 18:17)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 121

- Danny
Sunday, 15 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #176 - Daughter

One may not marry one's daughter.

One who has relationships with his daughter - even if he never married her mother - deserves to be burned to death by Beth Din.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

There is no explicit verse for this sin, it's deduced by Kal-Vachomer and Gezeira-shava (Sanhedrin 76a)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 120

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 12 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #175 - Grandchildren

One may not marry the daughter of one's sons or daughters.

One who has relationships with his grandchildren deserves to be burned to death by Beth Din.

By Rabbinical decree this includes great-grandchildren.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Verse: "The nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter you shall not uncover" (Vayikra 18:10)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 119

- Danny
Wednesday, 11 Tamuz 5770

Mitzvah #162 - Kissing and cuddling

One may not have affectionate contact with close of kin - even if it does not involve marital relations.

One who hugs, kisses or has close physical contact with those they may not marry (except for one's children and parents), deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din, and is considered to be suspect of being promiscuous.

One is not allowed to seclude oneself with those one may not marry (except for one's children and parents), a prohibition known as Yichud.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "None of you shall approach anybody who is near of kin to him" (Vayikra 18:6)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 110

- Danny
Sunday, 24 Sivan 5770

Please daven for a complete recovery for

Chagai Yitzchak ben Pnina - חגי יצחק בן פנינה

Mitzvah #143 - Circumcision - Brit Mila

It's a Mitzva for a father to circumcise his son when he is 8 days old.

The Brit Mila must be done during the day.

If the newborn is not 100% healthy then the Brit Mila is postponed.

If the Brit Mila is on time (on the 8th day) then it is done even on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippour.

A person who was not circumcised by his father needs to get himself circumcised when he grows up. If he dies without having done so, he deserves Karet.

Applies to men, everywhere, always

Verse: "And on the 8th day he shall be circumcised" (Vayikra 12:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 47

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny
Thursday, 22 Iyar 5770 - 37th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #131 - Getting married

It's a Mitzva for men to get married and have children.

The obligation begins when he turns 18 unless he prefers to spend all his time learning Torah, in which case he can delay getting married until his 25th birthday.

Applies to men, everywhere, always

Verse: "And He said to them:be fruitful and multiply" (Breishith 1:28)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 43

- Danny
Monday, 5 Iyar 5770 20th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #128 - Fearing parents

One should fear one's parents. This includes:

• Not standing or sitting on their designated places
• Not contradicting them
• Not addressing them by name

A parent may give permission to their child to do any of the above, if they so wish.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "A person should fear his mother and father" (Vayikra 19:3)

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

- Danny
Tuesday, 29 Nissan 5770, 14th day of the Omer

Mitzvah #125 - Honoring parents

Honoring parents includes providing them with food and drinks, clothing and warm covers.

A child should serve his parents like a slave would serve his master.

One should not obey ones parents if they request one to transgress a Mitzvah or Halacha.

A father's honor takes precedence over the mother's honor, when there's a conflict.

A wife is exempt from this Mitzva if her husband prevents her from doing it.

One who doesn't take their parent's honor seriously has transgressed this Mitzva, unless the parents willingly allowed him to behave so.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always

Verse: "Honor your father and mother" (Shmot 20:12 - 5th of the 10 commandments)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 41

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach

- Danny
Thursday, 24 Nissan 5770, 9th day of the Omer