The mitzvah of belief in Gd

Hi,

 According to the Sefer haChinuch, mitzvah #25 is the start of the Aseret haDibrot, “I am Gd, your Lord, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves.”

The Sefer haChinuch follows the view of Rambam (Sefer haMitzvot, Aseh 1) that this mitzvah includes belief in a single Gd who created all that exists, by whose Will all exists, and who is eternal. The mitzvah is also to believe that this same Gd brought us out of Egypt and gave us the Torah. This is the foundation of Jewish belief and practice; the fact that there is an omnipotent Gd, and that He is involved with our world, is what establishes the validity of the rest of Torah.

In contrast, Baal Halachot Gedolot and Ramban, apparently based on a midrash (Mechilta d'R' Yishmael, Yitro: BaChodesh 6), argue that this Divine declaration sets the stage for all other mitzvot, but is not a mitzvah unto itself.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Imitating Gd

Hi,

"Mitzvah #8 [in the Torah] is to make ourselves appear like Gd, as it is written, 'And you shall walk in His ways.' This is repeated in the Torah, in the verse 'to walk in His ways.'

"This is explained (in Sotah 14), 'Just as Gd is called 'Giving', so you should be giving. Just as Gd is called 'Merciful', so you should be merciful...'

"It is also repeated in the Torah with different language, 'You shall walk after Gd.' This is explained as trying to say that one should imitate the good deeds and honored traits that are ascribed to Gd - as if description of Gd were possible, for Gd is far above anything else."

(Maimonides, The Book of Mitzvot, Aseh #8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Job One: Believe in Me

Hi,

"The first mitzvah is that Gd commanded us to believe in Gd, meaning to believe that there is a Catalyst and Cause which creates all that exists, as the Torah says, ‘I am HaShem your Gd.’

"At the end of Tractate Makkot the sages said, '613 mitzvot were told to Moshe at Sinai. What is the verse for this? ‘Moshe commanded us Torah’' – Meaning, the number of ת-ו-ר-ה.

"The sages then challenged this, for ת-ו-ר-ה is 611, and their answer was that the Jews heard Anochi and Lo Yihyeh directly from Gd. It is clear from this that Anochi HaShem is one of the 613 mitzvot. This is the commandment to believe, as we have explained."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot, Aseh 1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The mitzvah of sanctifying Gd's Name

Hi,

"The ninth mitzvah is that He instructed us to sanctify the Name, as it is written, 'And I will be sanctified among the children of Israel.

"This mitzvah means that we are instructed to publicize this true faith in the world, and that we should not fear harm from any attacker."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot, Aseh 9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Aiding widows and orphans

Hi,


"Mitzvah 256 instructs us not to oppress an orphan or a widow, as it is written, 'You shall oppress no widow or orphan.' This instructs includes verbal oppression as well as oppression through actions. Rather, one should say good and gentle things to them, and do business with them, and provide for them to live a good and happy life."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot Prohibition #256)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The obligation to repent

Hi,

"Mitzvah 73 is that Gd instructed us to admit sins of desire and accidental sins which we have committed before Gd, and to declare them, along with our repentance. This is called viduy, and it means that one should declare, 'Please, Gd, I have sinned accidentally, I have sinned out of desire, I have sinned out of rebellion, and I did such-and-such.' One should go on at length and request forgiveness in this manner, according to his speaking ability."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot, Aseh 73)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Giving good advice

Hi,

"Prohibition #299 instructs that none of us should cause others to stumble.

"This means that if someone asks you for advice in a matter in which he might err, we are warned not to trick him or to cause him to stumble, but to straighten his path toward that which one believes to be good and just for him."

(Rambam, Sefer haMitzvot, Prohibition #299)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Adding to the Torah, and subtracting therefrom

Hi,

"Prohibition #313 instructs us not to add to the written or received Torah, as it is written, 'Do not add to it.'"

(Maimonides, Book of Mitzvot)

Have a great day,
Mordechai