The Rabbis came to assume that the Law comprised 613 commandments. According to Rabbi Simlai, as quoted in the Talmud, this enumeration of 613 commandments was representative of 365 negative commandments like the number of days in the solar year, and 248 positive commandments like the number of bones in the human body - Talmud, tractate Makkoth 23b For a time, gematria was a significant feature in religious thought, and so it became said that 611, the gematria value for torah, was the number of comman ...

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Mitzvah, Mitzvah - Enumeration, Mitzvah - Rabbinical mitzvot, Mitzvah - Academic Treatment, Mitzvah - The Mitzvot and Jewish law

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The original law only requires the payot not to be removed, though they can be cut or trimmed but not with a razor, or blade sliding along the skin. Similarly, shaving facial hair was also prohibited. Since the advent of the electric razor, those models that function on the principle of a scissor would make shaving easy for many Modern Orthodox men. Within Haredi Judaism and particularly within Hasidic Judaism most men tend not to shave and quite a few grow payot that they were either rolled up behind their ears, shortened and ...

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Payot, Payot - Origin, Payot - Use

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As part of the 613 commandments, an injunction in Leviticus (19:27) commands Jews "You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you destroy the edges of your beard" JPS translation or simply "Do not cut off the hair on the sides of your head. Do not shave off the edges of your beard." Kaplan translation In the Hebrew of the Hebrew Bible: לֹא תַקִּפוּ, פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם; וְלֹא תַשְׁחִית, אֵת פְּאַתSee also:

Payot, Payot - Origin, Payot - Use

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The Hebrew text originally consisted only of consonants, together with some inconsistently applied letters used as vowels (matres lectionis). During the early middle ages, the Masoretes codified the oral tradition for reading the Tanakh by adding two special kinds of symbols to the text: niqud (vowel points) and cantillation signs. The latter indicate syntax, stress (accentuation), and the melody for reading. The books of the Torah have generally-used names which are based on the first prominent word in each book. The En ...

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Tanakh, Tanakh - Terminology, Tanakh - The canon, Tanakh - Books of the Tanakh, Tanakh - Chapters and verse numbers book divisions, Tanakh - Oral Torah, Tanakh - Available texts

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The threefold division reflected in the acronym Tanakh is well attested to in documents from the Second Temple period and in Rabbinic literature. During that period, however, the acronym Tanakh was not used; rather, the proper term was Mikra ("Reading"). The term Mikra continues to be used to this day alongside Tanakh to refer to the Hebrew scriptures. (In modern spoken Hebrew, Mikra has a m ...

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Tanakh, Tanakh - Terminology, Tanakh - The canon, Tanakh - Books of the Tanakh, Tanakh - Chapters and verse numbers book divisions, Tanakh - Oral Torah, Tanakh - Available texts

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According to the Jewish tradition, the Tanakh consists of twenty-four books (enumerated below). The Torah has five books, Nevi'im contains eight books, and Ketuvim has eleven. These twenty-four books are the same books found in the Protestant Old Testament, but the order of the books is different. The enumeration differs as well: Christians count these books as thirty-nine, not twenty-four. This is because Jews often count as a single book what Christians count as several. As such, one may draw a technical distinction between t ...

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Tanakh, Tanakh - Terminology, Tanakh - The canon, Tanakh - Books of the Tanakh, Tanakh - Chapters and verse numbers book divisions, Tanakh - Oral Torah, Tanakh - Available texts

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The chapter divisions and verse numbers have no significance in the Jewish tradition. Nevertheless, they are noted in all modern editions of the Tanakh so that verses may be located and cited. The division of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles into parts I and II is also indicated on each page of those books in order to prevent confusion about whether a chapter number is from part I or II, since the chapter numbering for the ...

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Tanakh, Tanakh - Terminology, Tanakh - The canon, Tanakh - Books of the Tanakh, Tanakh - Chapters and verse numbers book divisions, Tanakh - Oral Torah, Tanakh - Available texts

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Broadly, the Halakha comprises the practical application of the commandments (each one known as a mitzvah) in the Torah, as developed in subsequent rabbinic literature; see The Mitzvot and Jewish Law. According to the Talmud (Tractate Makot), there are 613 mitzvot ("commandments") in the Torah; in Hebrew these are known as the Taryag mitzvot תרי"ג מצוות. There are 248 positive mitzvot and 365 negative mitzvot given in the Torah, s ...

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Halakha, Halakha - Terminology, Halakha - The scope of Halakha, Halakha - The laws of the Torah, Halakha - Categories of law, Halakha - Sin: violation of Jewish law, Halakha - Gentiles and Jewish law, Halakha - The sources and process of Halakha, Halakha - Eras of history important in Jewish law, Halakha - The thirteen rules by which Jewish law was derived, Halakha - How Halakha is viewed today, Halakha - Flexibility within the Halakha, Halakha - Codes of Jewish law

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According to Jewish law, a sefer Torah (plural: Sifrei Torah) is a copy of the formal Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses hand-written on gevil (a form of parchment) by using a quill (or other writing utensil) dipped in ink. Producing a sefer Torah fulfills one of the 613 mitzvot (Judaism's commandments). According to most opinions, a sefer Torah can also be written on qlaf (after the fact). Either way, ...

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Sefer Torah, Sefer Torah - Production and use, Sefer Torah - Usage, Sefer Torah - External link

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The biblical mitzvot are referred to in the Talmud as Mitzvot de oraita, translated as commandments of the law. In contradistinction to this are rabbinical commandments, referred to as Mitzvot de rabbanan. Among the more important of these latter mitzvot are: The benediction, or thanksgiving for each enjoyment Washing of the hands before eating Lighting of the Sabbath lamp The 'Erub, on preparation for Sabbath transfer The Hallel liturgy on holy days The Hanukkah lights The ...

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Mitzvah, Mitzvah - Enumeration, Mitzvah - Rabbinical mitzvot, Mitzvah - Academic Treatment, Mitzvah - The Mitzvot and Jewish law

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In rabbinic thought, God's will is the source of, and authority for, every moral and religious duty. In this way, the Mitzvot thus constitute the Divinely instituted rules of conduct. Consequently, while Judaism regards the violation of the mitzvot to be a sin, Jewish ideas concerning sin differ from those of other religions. In rabbinic thought, the commandments are usually divided into two major groups: Mandatory laws, mitzvot aseh מצות עשה Laws of a prohibitory character, < ...

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Mitzvah, Mitzvah - Enumeration, Mitzvah - Rabbinical mitzvot, Mitzvah - Academic Treatment, Mitzvah - The Mitzvot and Jewish law

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Biblically, six differing law codes were given by Yahweh, to Moses, at Mount Sinai: The Ten Commandments. The Covenant Code follows, and provides more detailed laws. The Ritual Decalogue, roughly summarising the Covenant Code, is presented after a brief narrative describing the design for the Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle. The Priestly Code, containing extensive laws concerning rituals and more general situations is given from above the mercy seat in the Tabernacle, once the Ark and Taberna ...

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Mitzvah, Mitzvah - Enumeration, Mitzvah - Rabbinical mitzvot, Mitzvah - Academic Treatment, Mitzvah - The Mitzvot and Jewish law

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There continues to be a debate on the purposes and meaning of the laws regarding Kashrut. In Jewish philosophy it is recognized that many of the 613 mitzvot cannot be explained rationally. They are categorized as chukim, comprising such laws as the Red Heifer (Numbers 19). There are three basic points of view regarding these laws: One view holds that these laws do have a reason, but it is not understood because the ultimate explanation for mitzvot is beyond the human intellect. A second view holds t ...

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Kashrut, Kashrut - Types of foods, Kashrut - Identification of kosher foods, Kashrut - Reasons for the Biblical dietary laws, Kashrut - Ritual purity and holiness, Kashrut - Symbolic purpose, Kashrut - Maintenance of a separate culture, Kashrut - Hygiene, Kashrut - Other reasons, Kashrut - U.S. Laws regarding use of word Kosher, Kashrut - How kashrut is viewed by Judaism today, Kashrut - Vegetarianism, Kashrut - Kashrut and animal welfare, Kashrut - Kashrut and Islam, Kashrut - Notes

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The five books contain both a complete and ordered system of laws, particularly the 613 mitzvot (613 distinct "commandments", individually called a mitzvah), as well as a historical description of the beginnings of what came to be known as Judaism. The five books (particularly Genesis, the first part of Exodus, and much of Numbers) are, primarily, a collection of seemingly historical narratives rather than a continuous list of laws; moreover, many of the most important concepts and ideas from the Torah are found in these stories. The ...

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Torah, Torah - Structure, Torah - Production and usage of a Torah scroll, Torah - The Torah as the core of Judaism, Torah - The Torah and the oral law, Torah - Other views of the Torah

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Maimonides composed both works of Jewish scholarship, and medical texts. Most of Maimonides' works were written in Arabic. However, Mishneh Torah was written in Hebrew. His Jewish texts were: The Commentary on the Mishna, written in Arabic. This text was one of the first commentaries of its kind; its introductory sections are widely-quoted. See Mishnah Commentaries for details; Sefer Hamitzvot ("The Book of Commandments"). See 613 mitzvot for details; The Mishneh Torah (also k ...

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Maimonides, Maimonides - Biography, Maimonides - Works and bibliography, Maimonides - Influence, Maimonides - The 13 principles of faith, Maimonides - Halakhic works, Maimonides - Philosophy, Maimonides - Negative theology, Maimonides - Prophecy, Maimonides - The problem of evil, Maimonides - Astrology, Maimonides - True beliefs versus necessary beliefs, Maimonides - Resurrection acquired immortality and the afterlife

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Torah study is counted amongst the 613 biblical mitzvot (commandments), finding its source in the verse (Deuteronomy 6:7): "And you shall teach it to your children," upon which the Talmud comments that "Study is necessary in order to teach." The fact that study rose to such prominence rather quickly is attested to in another Talmudic discussion about which is preferred: study or action. The answer there, a seeming compromise, is "study that leads to action." Although the word Torah refers specifically to the Five Books of Moses, Jews also use the word to refer to Jewish Scripture in general; this includes the Hebrew Bible ...

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Torah study, Torah study - Origins, Torah study - Traditional view of Torah study, Torah study - Forms of traditional Jewish Torah study, Torah study - Torah Study by other Jewish denominations

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In Jewish tradition, the Amalekites came to represent the archetypal enemy of the Jews. For example, Haman, from the Book of Esther, is called the Agagite, which is interpreted as being a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag. The term has been used metaphorically to refer to enemies of Judaism throughout history, including the Nazis, and controversially, by some to refer to the Arabs. Amalek - Rejection of God. The concept has long been used by rabbis (particularly the Baal Shem Tov) to represent t ...

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Amalek, Amalek - Amalekites, Amalek - Allies of the Amalekites, Amalek - Genocide of the Amalekites, Amalek - Symbolism of the Amalekites, Amalek - Rejection of God, Amalek - Kings of the Amalekites, Amalek - Listing of Amalek/Amalekite references in the Old Testament

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Torah reading from a sefer Torah is usually reserved for Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), and for brief readings on Monday and Thursday mornings, and on other Jewish holidays. During cantillation, following the often dense text is aided by a yad ("hand"), a metal or wooden hand-shaped pointer that protects the scrolls by avoiding unnecessary contact of the skin with the parchment. Introduction of a new sefer Torah into a synagogue is often accompanied by celebratory dancing, singing, and prayer. This is a very ...

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Sefer Torah, Sefer Torah - Production and use, Sefer Torah - Usage, Sefer Torah - External link

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The name Halakha derives from the Hebrew halach הלך meaning "going" or the "[correct] way"; thus a literal translation does not yield "law", rather "the way to go." The term Halakha may refer to a single rule, to the literary corpus of rabbinic legal texts, as well as to the overall system of religious law. The Halakha is often contrasted with the Aggadah, the diverse corpus of rabbinic exegetical, narrative, philosophical and other "non-legal" literatures. At the same time, since writers of Halakha may draw upon the aggada literature, there is a dyna ...

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Halakha, Halakha - Terminology, Halakha - The scope of Halakha, Halakha - The laws of the Torah, Halakha - Categories of law, Halakha - Sin: violation of Jewish law, Halakha - Gentiles and Jewish law, Halakha - The sources and process of Halakha, Halakha - Eras of history important in Jewish law, Halakha - The thirteen rules by which Jewish law was derived, Halakha - How Halakha is viewed today, Halakha - Flexibility within the Halakha, Halakha - Codes of Jewish law

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History of Responsa - Conservative and Masorti responsa. Main articles: Conservative responsa, and [[{{{2}}}]], and [[{{{3}}}]], and [[{{{4}}}]]See also:

History of Responsa, History of Responsa - Talmudic era, History of Responsa - Pre-Mishnaic era, History of Responsa - Mishnaic era, History of Responsa - In the Talmud, History of Responsa - Geonim, History of Responsa - Characteristics, History of Responsa - Earlier Geonim, History of Responsa - Later Geonim, History of Responsa - Rishonim, History of Responsa - Characteristics, History of Responsa - Eleventh century, History of Responsa - Twelfth century, History of Responsa - Thirteenth century, History of Responsa - Fourteenth century, History of Responsa - Acharonim, History of Responsa - Characteristics, History of Responsa - Fifteenth century, History of Responsa - Sixteenth century, History of Responsa - Seventeenth century, History of Responsa - Eighteenth century, History of Responsa - Nineteenth century to early twentieth century, History of Responsa - Twentieth century, History of Responsa - Conservative and Masorti responsa, History of Responsa - Responsa of Orthodox Judaism

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The fringe (tzitzit) on each corner is made of four strands, each of which is made of eight fine threads (known as kaful shemoneh). The four strands are passed through a hole (or according to some: two holes) 1-2 inches (25 to 50 mm) away from the corner of the cloth. There are numerous customs as to how to tie the fringe. The Talmud explains that the Bible requires an upper knot (kesher elyon) and one wrapping of three winds (hulya). The Talmud goes on to explain that the Rabbis enjoined that betwee ...

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Tzitzit, Tzitzit - Origin and practice, Tzitzit - Loss of the source of tekhelet, Tzitzit - Threads and knots, Tzitzit - Tekhelet, Tzitzit - Hillazon, Tzitzit - Additional criteria, Tzitzit - Sepia officinalis, Tzitzit - Murex trunculus

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