YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Jewish Laws and Thoughts
- Serving Hashem, Mitzvot and Repentance
- Observing Mitzvot
These Mitzvot prevail upon us 24x7
Mitzvot – Commandments; are generally classified into two categories, time-bound and not time-bound. Time-bound Mitzvot can only be fulfilled at certain times, such as eating Matzah on Pesach or shaking a lulav on Succos. Even most Mitzvot that are not time-bound cannot be fulfilled all the time. For example, one cannot fulfill the mitzvah of mezuzah if one doesn’t have a door. There are, however, six Mitzvot that Jews are instructed to fulfill at all times and in all places. Riding the bus? You can fulfill six Mitzvot. Laid up in bed with a bad cold? You can do these. These are called the six Mitzvot Temidiot or "Constant/Continuous Mitzvot."*
1. To know there is a single G-d
I am Hashem your G-d who brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus 20:2) - The first of the Six Constant Mitzvos is also the first of the Ten Commandments; it is the mitzvah to recognize that Hashem exists. We must acknowledge not only that He created the world, but that He continues to be involved in its day-to-day operations and our personal lives. We should not just believe in G-d; we should go out and look at all the evidence so that we know there’s a G-d.
2. Not to believe in any other "gods"
Do not recognize any other "gods" in My presence. (Exodus 20:3) - Any place one could possibly go is in G-d’s presence; accordingly, there are no other powers! One must not even believe that Hashem created the world but then turned control over to an angel or other servant. We must recognize that no being created by Hashem can thwart His will.
3. To know that G-d is One
Listen, Israel, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is One. (Deuteronomy 6:4) - Aside from constantly recognizing Hashem’s unity, it is also a mitzvah to recite this verse, the Shema, both in the morning and at night. Recognizing Hashem’s unity means knowing that He is unique, He has no partners, components or divisions, and that He exists outside of time and space. Hashem is the only source of life and existence.
4. To love G-d
You shall love Hashem your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your ability. (Deuteronomy 6:5) - Loving Hashem should be the natural result of recognizing His existence; if we truly understand all that Hashem does for us, how could we help but appreciate and love Him for it? Studying Torah enables us to become more aware of Hashem and to become even closer to Him. We should also be prepared to give of our time, our resources and more for the sake of Hashem.
5. To be in awe of G-d
You must revere Hashem your G-d; Him you shall serve. (Deuteronomy 10:20) - Similarly, if we are aware that there’s a G-d, we couldn’t help but be in awe of Him. To revere G-d means to recognize that our actions have consequences. Just as becoming sick is a consequence of drinking poison, there are spiritual consequences, both positive and negative, to our actions. Knowing that there’s a G-d and a system of spiritual checks and balances helps keep us on the right path.
6. Not to go astray by our desires
Don’t follow your heart or your eyes, after which one can go astray. (Numbers 15:39) - "Heart" refers to heretical thoughts and "eyes" refers to physical temptations, both of which can distract a person from what’s really important in life. We have to keep our "eyes on the prize," that is, on Torah and its reward. We must not be led astray by philosophies that are not compatible with Torah or by physical desires.
These six Mitzvot can be fulfilled with thoughts alone, regardless of a person’s physical abilities. All Jews can use these Mitzvot to get to know, love and respect our Creator better, as well as to become better people.
Leviticus 19:18 – this commandment encompasses and is also included by all the other Mitzvot above.
An additional 7th commandment:
| יח לֹא-תִקֹּם וְלֹא-תִטֹּר אֶת-בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ, וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ: אֲנִי, יְ-ה-וָ-ה. | 18 Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. |
Because every person is in the image of G-d, if we hurt another Jew, we hurt Hashem. כל ישראל חברים We have an individual and collective responsibility to each other and to the Lord. Kol Israel Haverim – all of Israel are friends/connected, as our sages said; do not read friends (Haverim) but Me’Huabrim (connected).
Source: Leviticus 26:37
| לז וְכָשְׁלוּ אִישׁ-בְּאָחִיו כְּמִפְּנֵי-חֶרֶב, וְרֹדֵף אָיִן; וְלֹא-תִהְיֶה לָכֶם תְּקוּמָה, לִפְנֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם. | 37 And they shall stumble one upon another, as it were before the sword, when none pursueth; and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. |
By keeping Torah and Mitzvot we avoid retribution from ourselves individually and collectively. We help ourselves to reap infinite rewards, including an earlier eternal redemption and eternal life. Each and every Jew has a personal stake to do the correct thing!
________
* Source: Introduction to Sefer Ha’Chinuch and paragraphs 25, 26, 417, 418, 232, 387
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
