mitzvot

Personal Growth series:

Showing our values

Honoring those performing a mitzvah reminds us of and reinforces our appreciation for the great value of mitzvah observance.

Say the G-word, Israel!

The void in the world—subsequently filled with so much evil—will not be replaced with goodness and holiness until our leaders begin speaking again about God

Personal Growth series:

Completely Committed

Our commitment to mitzvot should be comprehensive — we should endeavor to observe all of His commandments.

Personal Growth series:

The Essence of Mitzvot

Naturally, we prefer to be free to make our own decisions and live as we please. Mitzvot call upon us to recognize our dependency upon Hashem and subjugate our will to His.

Personal Growth Series:

The source and centrality of Mitzvah observance

Mitzvot were a pre-condition of redemption. They were also its implication.

Le’David Barchi Nafshi:

Ki Tetse: Three mitzvot between man and G-d

In a parsha with tens of mitzvot between man and his fellow man, three are between man and G-d, but that is not coincidental.

How can I get happy and stay happy?

The way to get happy and to remain happy is to totally transform the way we understand happiness.

Elul: Towards gaining a meritorious judgment

There is a wise path to take to merit a positive judgment on Rosh Hashanah and lengthen one’s days.

Re’eh:

How we can guide ‘off the derech’ children – and nations

We need G-d’s blessing to continue to ensure that we and our children remain on the right path – and we need His mercy to bring us back from the curse of ongoing alienation from Him.

Sukkot: Our protective fortress

Israel's first Chief Rabbi asks: Why should such a flimsy structure be a paradigm of protection and safety? 

Eikev: Avoiding the mistakes of one's predecessors

The service in the Beit Hamikdash is the prototype of all the mitzvot.

Shlach Lecha (Diaspora): How not to use the Torah

You might have somebody who has been schooled in the ways of the Torah, but doesn’t want to translate their knowledge into action.

The gift from Esau and Ishmael: Naaseh veNishma

Ramban:’Had not Israel accepted the Torah, the world would have returned to nothingness, BY ITSELF...’.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Bechukotai: A challenge for Shavuot this year

Why not go for it? Why not engage with Torah?

Connecting two very different negative mitzvot

The Torah puts the verse regarding the commandment of Not Eating Blood next to the commandment of Orlah (Lev.19:23). Why?

Acharei Mot: Sometimes exceptions are unacceptable

One cannot pick and choose mitzvot.

Living through tt

How do we live "through" the mitzvot?

Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch on the parasha: Hearing voices

What really happened at Mount Sinai? After all, say skeptics, God doesn't speak to us.

Mishpatim, the legislative parasha

Is this a random selection of mitzvot, or is there a connecting theme?

To be ‘shomer mitzvot’ does not mean to keep mitzvot!

To be ‘oseh mitzvot’ of course means to fulfil the mitzvot, but from here we learn a very relevant and important lesson for us today.

Ki Tavo: Serve Hashem with joy - it's a mitzva!

What do the commentators say about the Torah reprimanding or punishing us for not performing mitzvot joyfully?

Ki Teitse: Build a new home, so you can erect a guard rail

Commentators on this mitzva, ‘It follows, that the guard rail is in reality the guardian of the house, that it should remain in his hands!.’

Ki Teitze: Coincidence?

There are mitzvas which, by their nature, no one can plan to do. Perhaps God sends these opportunities to those who look for mitzvot to do.

Eshet yefat toar, a captive woman - what kind of mitzva is this?

Young Israeli Torah scholars on the issue of the beautiful female captive, the,eshet yefat toar. A decree from God or a life prescription?

Do not trample minor mitzvot under your heel

Eikev means a heel and "as a result of" - and the two are connected by God's admonition and promise of love. The views of commentators.