Many mistakenly view mitzvot as the equivalent of good deeds. Though mitzvot are indeed good deeds, they are much more than just that. The word mitzvah, which literally means “commandment,” ...

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To be ‘shomer mitzvot’ does not mean to keep mitzvot! That is the surprising view of the Or HaChaim Hakadosh. If that’s the case, what does being ‘shomer mitzvot’ mean? The Or HaChaim explains that it ...

Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its ...

Recounting for the first time the story of an entire people who, after long years of harsh and grueling bondage, emerge into freedom. Parashat Beshalach is a historic Torah portion, recounting for the ...

When it comes to the Torah many do not connect the consequences of inactions when it comes to not doing mitzvot. This is a great challenge in particular for many non-Orthodox Jews. “Vayikra,” the book ...

Parshat Ki Teitzei has more mitzvot (74) than any other parsha in the Torah. According to the Ohr HaChayim and other commentators, the fact that we read this series of parshiyot in the weeks before ...

Do mitzvot have reasons or are they purely a Divine decree? Should we live lives insulated from other cultures or integrated with them? Is religious life an ascetic one or should we take advantage of ...

Jews believe that God gave them the mitzvot. Therefore, by obeying these laws, they will deepen their connection with God. For Reform Jews, observing the mitzvot is a matter of personal choice. They ...

Jews believe that disobeying the mitzvot will result in punishment. Mizvot means ‘commandments’ (plural). Mitzvah means ‘commandment’ (singular). The mitzvot can be split into two categories: 248 of ...