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 #113 - Causing others to sin

It is forbidden to cause others to sin.

Included in this Mitzva is the prohibition of giving people bad advice on any subject; religious, financial, with relationships or any other subject.

Included is the prohibition of helping people, or assisting them, or making it easier for them to do a sin.

This also applies to non-Jews transgressing any of the 7 Noachide laws.

Applies to everybody, always, everywhere

Verse: "and in front of the blind do not put a stumbling block" (Vayikra 19:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 76

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Adar 5770

Mitzvah #57 - Rest from work on Shabbat

It's a Mitzva to desist from all 39 categories of forbidden work on Shabbat. (See a list at http://www.answers.com/topic/39-categories-of-activity-prohibited-on-shabbat)

This includes not having ones animals doing work.

By Rabbinic decree one may not request a non-Jew to do work on Shabbat.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, on Shabbat

Pasuk: "and on the 7th day you shall rest" (Shmot 23:14)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 20

- Danny
Wednesday, 6 Tevet 5770

Mitzvah #52 - Do not steal

One may not take another's possessions without his permission, even if one plans on paying him later.

This applies to possessions belonging to adults or kids, Jews and non-Jews.

Even taking another's possessions as a joke or prank is forbidden.

One who transgresses has a Mitzva of returning double the amount they stole (Shmos 22:8) unless it was an ox or a sheep for which one has to pay back 5 or 4 times the amount stolen.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not steal" (Vayikra 19:11)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 34

- Danny
Wednesday, 5th day Chanukah, 29 Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #32 - Don't imitate the non-Jews

It's a Mitzvah to not imitate the Goyim.

One should not follow their fashions in dress, hair style and shaving.

Somebody who needs to dress like them to appear before their royalty, may do so.

Pasuk: "and in their statutes don't walk" (Vayikra 18:3)

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 21

Chodesh Tov,

- Danny
Wednesday, 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5770

Mitzvah #29 - Don't marry a non-Jew

One may not marry somebody who is not Jewish.

Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.

Pasuk: "Do not get married with them" (Devorim 7:3)

Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 19

- Danny
Sunday, 28 Marcheshvan 5770