Truly, there is no limit to mitzvot, as the psalmist says, I have seen that all things have their limit, but your commandment is broad beyond measure [ps. 119:96]. on the other hand, if we count only the general, the fundamental ones [ve-ha-iqarim] and the commandments that are binding for all time, the mitzvot do not add up to [’asuyot, lit. “are not made to be”] 613.1
1. To know there is a God.2
(Exodus 20:2)
2. To have no other gods.
(Exodus 20:3)
3. To know that He is one.
(Deuteronomy 6:4)
4. To love Him.
(Deuteronomy 6:5)
5. To fear Him.
(Deuteronomy 10:20)
6. To sanctify His Name.
(Leviticus 22:32)
7. Not to profane His Name.
(Leviticus 22:32)
8. To worship Him as He has ordered and not destroy holy objects.
(Deuteronomy 12:4)
9. To listen to the true prophet.
(Deuteronomy 18:15)
10. Not to test the prophet.
(Deuteronomy 6:16)
11. To emulate His ways.
(Deuteronomy 28:9)
12. To be with those who only worship Him.
(Deuteronomy 10:20)
13. To love your neighbor as yourself.
(Leviticus 19:18)
14. To love converts.
(Deuteronomy 10:19)
15. Not to hate your brother in your heart.
(Leviticus 19:17)
16. To reprove your brother when necessary.
(Leviticus 19:17)
17. Not to embarrass others.
(Leviticus 19:17)
18. Not to oppress the weak.
(Exodus 22:21)
19. Not to slander.
(Leviticus 19:16)
20. Not to take revenge.
(Leviticus 19:18)
21. Not to bear a grudge.
(Leviticus 19:18)
22. Teach Torah to your children.
(Deuteronomy 6:7)
23. To respect and defer to the elders.
(Leviticus 19:32)
24. Do not turn to the ways of idol worship.
(Leviticus 19:4)
25. Let the fringes on your clothes remind you to have pure conduct.
(Numbers 15:39)
26. Not to blaspheme or curse a judge.
(Exodus 22:27)
27. Not to worship idols.
(Exodus 20:5)
28. Not to bow down to idols.
(Exodus 20:5)
29. Not to make an idol.
(Exodus 20:4)
30. Not to make or cast an image.
(Leviticus 19:4)
31. Not to make gods of silver or gold.
(Exodus 20:20)
32. Not to turn people to idolatry.
(Exodus 23:13)
33. To destroy a city that has turned to idol worship.
(Deuteronomy 13:17)
34. Not to rebuild that city.
(Deuteronomy 13:17)
35. Not to retain any benefit from that city.
(Deuteronomy 13:18)
36. Not to missionize a person to idol worship.
(Deuteronomy 13:12)
37. Not to love the missionary.
(Deuteronomy 13:9)
38. Not to stop hating him.
(Deuteronomy 13:9)
39. Not to save him.
(Deuteronomy 13:9)
40. Not to speak in his defense.
(Deuteronomy 13:9)
41. Not to refrain from incriminating him.
(Deuteronomy 13:9)
42. Not to prophesize in idolatry.
(Deuteronomy 18:20)
43. To ignore the false prophet.
(Deuteronomy 13:4)
44. Not to prophesize falsely in God’s name.
(Deuteronomy 18:20)
45. Not to fear killing a false prophet.
(Deuteronomy 18:22)
46. Never swear in the name of an idol.
(Exodus 23:13)
47. Not to perform as or acknowledge those who purport to channel spirits.
(Leviticus 19:31)
48. Not to perform as or consult fortunetellers.
(Leviticus 19:31)
49. Not to burn your children in a sacrificial fire to Molech.
(Leviticus 18:21)
50. Not to erect a stone pillar in a place of public worship.
(Deuteronomy 16:22)
51. Not to erect an idol or bow down on a smooth stone for worship.
(Leviticus 26:1)
52. Not to plant a tree as a sacred pole.
(Deuteronomy 16:21)
53. Destroy idols, their accessories, and the places where they were worshipped.
(Deuteronomy 12:2)
54. Do not derive benefit from idols or bring abominations home.
(Deuteronomy 7:26)
55. Do not derive benefit from the gold and silver accessories of idols.
(Deuteronomy 7:25)
56. Make no covenant with Canaanites or their gods.
(Deuteronomy 7:2)
57. Show them no favor.
(Deuteronomy 7:2)
58. Not to let them dwell in your land.
(Exodus 23:33)
59. Not to imitate their customs and clothing.
(Leviticus 20:23)
60. Not to be superstitious.
(Leviticus 19:26)
61. To not self-induce a trance to foresee events or tolerate soothsayers.
(Deuteronomy 18:10)
62. Not to engage in astrology.
(Leviticus 19:26)
63. Not to say incantations or cast spells.
(Deuteronomy 18:11)
64. Not to attempt contacting the dead.
(Deuteronomy 18:11)
65. Not to consult with mediums.
(Deuteronomy 18:11)
66. Not to converse with wizards.
(Deuteronomy 18:11)
67. Not to do sorcery.
(Deuteronomy 18:10)
68. To not cut your hair at the temples.
(Leviticus 19:27)
69. Do not shave your beard.
(Leviticus 19:27)
70. Men must not wear women’s clothes.
(Deuteronomy 22:5)
71. Women must not wear men’s clothes.
(Deuteronomy 22:5)
72. Not to tattoo your skin.
(Leviticus 19:28)
73. Not to tear your skin for idolatry or mourning.
(Deuteronomy 14:1)
74. Not to shave your head in mourning.
(Deuteronomy 14:1)
75. Wrongdoers must correct their ways and confess before God.
(Numbers 5:7)
76. Recite the central prayers twice daily and always study Torah, wherever you are.
(Deuteronomy 6:7)
77. Serve God with prayer.
(Exodus 23:25)
78. The priests, who are the sons of Aaron, must bless the nation.
(Numbers 6:23)
79. To wear phylacteries so the laws will be a pendant on your forehead.
(Deuteronomy 6:8)
80. To bind phylacteries so that the laws will be a sign on the arm.
(Deuteronomy 6:8)
81. To put up a Mezuzah so that the laws will be on the doorposts of your house.
(Deuteronomy 6:9)
82. Each male must write a Torah scroll.
(Deuteronomy 31:19)
83. The king must write a second Torah scroll.
(Deuteronomy 17:18)
84. To have fringes on the corners of your garments.
(Numbers 15:38)
85. Bless God after meals.
(Deuteronomy 8:10)
86. To circumcise every male on the eighth day.
(Leviticus 12:3)
87. To rest on the seventh day.
(Exodus 23:12)
88. Not to do prohibited work on the seventh day.
(Exodus 20:10)
89. The court must not inflict punishment on the Sabbath.
(Exodus 35:3)
90. Stay near home and within city bounds on the Sabbath.
(Exodus 16:29)
91. To remember and sanctify the Sabbath by blessing the wine and lighting the conclusionary candle.
(Exodus 20:8)
92. To perform self-denial and to rest from exertion on Yom Kippur.
(Leviticus 23:32)
93. Not to do prohibited labor.
(Leviticus 23:31)
94. To afflict yourself.
(Leviticus 16:29)
95. Not to eat or drink.
(Leviticus 23:29)
96. To rest on the first day of Passover.
(Leviticus 23:8)
97. To do no work on the first day of Passover.
(Leviticus 23:8)
98. To rest on the seventh day of Passover.
(Leviticus 23:8)
99. To do no work on the seventh day of Passover.
(Leviticus 23:8)
100. To rest on the first day of Pentecost.
(Leviticus 23:21)
101. To do no work on the first day of Pentecost.
(Leviticus 23:21)
102. To rest on the New Year (the first day of the seventh month).
(Leviticus 23:24)
103. To do no work on Rosh Hashana, the New Year.
(Leviticus 23:25)
104. To rest on the first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Booths.
(Leviticus 23:35)
105. The first day of Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, is sacred. Do no work.
(Leviticus 23:35)
106. To rest on the eighth day of the Feast of Booths, Shimini Atzeret.
(Leviticus 23:36)
107. To do no work on the eighth day of the Feast of Booths.
(Leviticus 23:36)
108. Do not eat leaven past noon on the day of Passover.
(Deuteronomy 16:3)
109. To destroy all leaven on Passover.
(Exodus 12:15)
110. Not to eat leaven all seven days of Passover.
(Exodus 13:3)
111. Not to eat anything containing leaven during Passover.
(Exodus 12:20)
112. No leaven shall be found in your domain during Passover.
(Exodus 13:7)
113. Not to find any leaven in your house all seven days of Passover.
(Exodus 12:19)
114. To eat matzoh on the first night of Passover.
(Exodus 12:18)
115. On that night to explain the meaning of Passover.
(Exodus 13:8)
116. To hear the Shofar, the ram’s horn trumpet, on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month (Rosh Hashanah).
(Numbers 29:1)
117. To dwell in a Sukka (booth) for the seven days of the festival.
(Leviticus 23:42)
118. To take up a Lulav (palm branch) and an Etrog (citron).
(Leviticus 23:40)
119. Families shall pay an annual half-shekel temple tax.
(Exodus 30:13)
120. The courts must calculate the day on which the new month begins.
(Exodus 12:2)
121. To afflict and cry out (blow the trumpets) before God in times of catastrophe.
(Numbers 10:9)
122. A man should contractually marry a woman before living with her.
(Deuteronomy 24:1)
123. Not to have relations with women who are not acquired thus. (An Israelite man or woman cannot be a prostitute.)
(Deuteronomy 23:18)
124. Not to withhold food, clothing, and relations from your wife.
(Exodus 21:10)
125. To have children from her.
(Genesis 1:28)
126. A divorced wife must receive a written bill of divorce.
(Deuteronomy 24:1)
127. A man cannot remarry his divorced wife.
(Deuteronomy 24:4)
128. To marry a childless brother’s widow.
(Deuteronomy 25:5)
129. To free a childless widow from the obligation to marry her brother-in-law.
(Deuteronomy 25:9)
130. The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed.
(Deuteronomy 25:5)
131. The court must fine one who seduces a maiden.
(Exodus 22:15-16)
132. The rapist must marry the maiden.
(Deuteronomy 22:29)
133. He must not divorce her.
(Deuteronomy 22:29)
134. The slanderer must remain married to his wife.
(Deuteronomy 22:19)
135. He must not divorce her.
(Deuteronomy 22:19)
136. To take procedures against a suspected adultress.
(Numbers 5:30)
137. A jealous husband must take his wife to the priests and not put oil on her meal offering.
(Numbers 5:15)
138. A suspected wife is to be accompanied by a meal offering that contains no frankincense.
(Numbers 5:15)
139. Not to have relations with your mother.
(Leviticus 18:7)
140. Not to have relations with your father’s wife.
(Leviticus 18:8)
141. Not to have relations with your sister.
(Leviticus 18:9)
142. Not to have relations with your father’s wife’s daughter.
(Leviticus 18:11)
143. Not to have relations with your son’s daughter.
(Leviticus 18:10)
144. Not to have relations with your daughter.
(Leviticus 18:10)
145. Not to have relations with your daughter’s daughter.
(Leviticus 18:10)
146. Not to marry a woman and her daughter.
(Leviticus 18:17)
147. Not to marry a woman and her son’s daughter.
(Leviticus 18:17)
148. Not to marry a woman and her daughter’s daughter.
(Leviticus 18:17)
149. Not to have relations with your father’s sister.
(Leviticus 18:12)
150. Not to have relations with your mother’s sister.
(Leviticus 18:13)
151. Not to have relations with your father’s brother’s wife (same father).
(Leviticus 18:14)
152. Not to have relations with your son’s wife.
(Leviticus 18:15)
153. Not to have relations with your brother’s wife (same father and/or mother).
(Leviticus 18:16)
154. Not to have relations with your wife’s sister.
(Leviticus 18:18)
155. A man must not have relations with a beast.
(Leviticus 18:23)
156. A woman must not have relations with a beast.
(Leviticus 18:23)
157. Not to have homosexual relations.
(Leviticus 18:22)
158. Not to have homosexual relations with your father.
(Leviticus 18:7)
159. Not to have homosexual relations with your father’s brother.
(Leviticus 18:14)
160. Not to have relations with a married woman.
(Leviticus 18:20)
161. Not to have relations with a menstrually unclean woman.
(Leviticus 18:19)
162. Not to marry Gentiles.
(Deuteronomy 7:3)
163. Not to let Moabite and Ammonite males marry the Jewish people.
(Deuteronomy 23:4)
164. Don’t abhor or keep third-generation Edomite and Egyptian converts from marrying into the Jewish nation.
(Deuteronomy 23:8-9)
165. Not to abhor or refrain from marrying a third-generation Edomite or Egyptian convert.
(Deuteronomy 23:8-9)
166. A bastard child cannot become an Israelite.
(Deuteronomy 23:3)
167. A eunuch or sexually mutilated man may not enter into the community.
(Deuteronomy 23:2)
168. Not to castrate any male (including animals).
(Leviticus 22:24)
169. The High Priest must not marry a widow.
(Leviticus 21:14)
170. The High Priest must not have relations with a widow.
(Leviticus 21:14)
171. The High Priest must marry a virgin.
(Leviticus 21:13)
172. A priest must not marry a divorcée.
(Leviticus 21:7)
173. A priest may not marry a prostitute.
(Leviticus 21:7)
174. A priest must not marry a defiled woman.
(Leviticus 21:7)
175. Not to have pleasurable physical contact with any forbidden woman.
(Leviticus 18:6)
176. To examine animals that are permitted as food.
(Leviticus 11:2)
177. Be careful to eat only clean birds.
(Deuteronomy 14:11)
178. To distinguish which sea creatures are fit to eat.
(Leviticus 11:9)
179. To distinguish which winged insects may be eaten.
(Leviticus 11:21)
180. Not to eat unclean animals.
(Leviticus 11:4)
181. Not to eat forbidden birds.
(Leviticus 11:13)
182. Not to eat sea creatures without fins and scales.
(Leviticus 11:11)
183. Not to eat unclean flying insects.
(Deuteronomy 14:19)
184. Small swarming insects and unclean creatures that crawl on land are forbidden as food.
(Leviticus 11:41)
185. Not to eat maggots.
(Leviticus 11:44)
186. Not to eat snakes, scorpions, and worms found on the ground (after leaving the fruit).
(Leviticus 11:42)
187. Not to eat creatures that live in water, other than fish.
(Leviticus 11:43)
188. Not to eat an animal that died without ritual slaughter.
(Deuteronomy 14:21)
189. Not to eat an ox that was condemned to be stoned.
(Exodus 21:28)
190. Not to eat the meat of a mortally wounded animal.
(Exodus 22:30)
191. Not to eat a limb torn off from a living creature.
(Deuteronomy 12:23)
192. Not to eat blood.
(Leviticus 3:17)
193. Not to eat the fat of some clean animals.
(Leviticus 3:17)
194. Not to eat the thigh muscle.
(Genesis. 32:33)
195. Not to eat milk and meat cooked together.
(Exodus 23:19)
196. Not to cook milk and meat together.
(Exodus 34:26)
197. Not to eat bread from the new grain harvest.
(Leviticus 23:14)
198. Roasted grains must be offered before they are eaten.
(Leviticus 23:14)
199. Not to eat ripe grains from the new grain harvest before they are made as an offering.
(Leviticus 23:14)
200. Not to eat the fruit of a tree for the first three years.
(Leviticus 19:23)
201. At the risk of forfeiture, not to eat diverse seeds planted in a vineyard.
(Deuteronomy 22:9)
202. No one may eat produce for an offering or untithed food.
(Leviticus 22:15)
203. Not to eat or drink anything offered as a sacrifice to an idol.
(Deuteronomy 32:38)
204. To ritually slaughter an animal before eating it.
(Deuteronomy 12:21)
205. Not to slaughter an animal and its offspring on the same day.
(Leviticus 22:28)
206. The blood of a slaughtered wild animal must be covered with dirt.
(Leviticus 17:13)
207. Not to take a nesting bird with her eggs and young.
(Deuteronomy 22:6)
208. To release the mother bird if you did not take her.
(Deuteronomy 22:7)
209. Not to swear falsely in God’s Name.
(Leviticus 19:12)
210. Not to take God’s Name in vain.
(Exodus 20:7)
211. Do not lie or deal falsely, or deny that something of value was left in your possession.
(Leviticus 19:11)
212. To not swear falsely.
(Leviticus 19:11)
213. To swear in God’s Name only to confirm the truth, when deemed necessary by the courts.
(Deuteronomy 10:20)
214. To keep your promises and vows to God.
(Deuteronomy 23:24)
215. Not to break oaths or vows.
(Numbers 30:3)
216. To have vows and oaths annulled according to law.
(Numbers 30:3)
217. The Nazirite must let his hair grow.
(Numbers 6:5)
218. The Nazirite must not cut his hair.
(Numbers 6:5)
219. The Nazirite must not drink wine, wine mixtures, or wine vinegar.
(Numbers 6:3)
220. The Nazirite must not eat fresh grapes.
(Numbers 6:3)
221. The Nazirite must not eat raisins or drink anything steeped in grapes.
(Numbers 6:3)
222. The Nazirite must not eat grape seeds.
(Numbers 6:4)
223. The Nazirite must not eat grape skins or grapes dried on the vine.
(Numbers 6:4)
224. A Nazirite may not enter where there is a dead person.
(Numbers 6:6)
225. A Nazirite must not come in contact with the dead.
(Numbers 6:7)
226. A Nazirite must shave his head after the completion of his vowed service.
(Numbers 6:18)
227. To estimate the value of persons for whom offerings are paid.
(Leviticus 27:2)
228. For priests to estimate the value of animal offerings.
(Leviticus 27:12-13)
229. For priests to estimate the value of consecrated houses.
(Leviticus 27:14)
230. To determine the redemption value of a vowed field.
(Leviticus 27:16)
231. Fulfill the procedures of vowed possessions.
(Leviticus 27:28)
232. Not to sell vowed possessions.
(Leviticus 27:28)
233. Not to redeem any vowed possessions.
(Leviticus 27:28)
234. Not to plant diverse seeds together.
(Leviticus 19:19)
235. Not to plant grains or greens in a vineyard.
(Deuteronomy 22:9)
236. Not to crossbreed animals.
(Leviticus 19:19)
237. Not to work with different animals together.
(Deuteronomy 22:10)
238. Not to wear cloth woven of both wool and linen.
(Deuteronomy 22:11)
239. No, to reap your harvest to the edge of the field, but leave a corner uncut for the poor.
(Leviticus 19:10)
240. Not to reap that corner but to leave fruit and grain for the poor.
(Leviticus 19:9)
241. To leave gleanings.
(Leviticus 19:9)
242. Not to gather the gleanings.
(Leviticus 19:9)
243. Not to pick your vineyard bare.
(Leviticus 19:10)
244. Not to gather the gleanings of a vineyard.
(Leviticus 19:10)
245. To not gather the fallen fruit of the vineyard.
(Leviticus 19:10)
246. Not to pick the unformed clusters of grapes.
(Leviticus 19:10)
247. To leave forgotten sheaves in the field or leave a sheaf for the poor.
(Deuteronomy 24:19)
248. Not to retrieve them but leave them for the widow, alien, and orphan.
(Deuteronomy 24:19)
249. To separate the tithe for the poor.
(Deuteronomy 14:28)
250. To give charity.
(Deuteronomy 15:11)
251. Not to withhold charity from those in need.
(Deuteronomy 15:7)
252. To set aside a tithed portion of the offerings for the priesthood).
(Deuteronomy 18:4)
253. The Levite must be tithed on his tithe.
(Numbers 18:26)
254. To not delay your agricultural offerings.
(Exodus 22:28)
255. A layperson may not eat from a sacred donation.
(Leviticus 22:10)
256. A servant of a priest may not eat from a sacred donation.
(Leviticus 22:10)
257. An uncircumcised priest may not eat from a sacred donation.
(Exodus 12:48)
258. A priest in a state of impurity may not eat from a sacred donation.
(Leviticus 22:4)
259. A priest’s daughter married to a layman may not eat from a sacred donation.
(Leviticus 22:12)
260. Levites are to receive earmarked tithes each planting year.
(Numbers 18:24)
261. To set aside the Second Tithe.
(Deuteronomy 14:22)
262. Not to spend its redemption value on anything other than food, drink, or ointment.
(Deuteronomy 26:14)
263. Not to eat from the Tithe while unclean.
(Deuteronomy 26:14)
264. A mourner must not eat the Second Tithe on the first day of mourning.
(Deuteronomy 26:14)
265. Not to eat grains from the Second Tithe outside Jerusalem.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
266. Not to consume Second-Tithe wine products outside Jerusalem.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
267. Not to consume Second-Tithe oil outside Jerusalem.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
268. The fourth-year crops must be totally for holy purposes.
(Leviticus 19:24)
269. To read the confession of tithes every fourth and seventh year.
(Deuteronomy 26:13)
270. To bring the first fruits into the temple.
(Exodus 23:19)
271. The priests must not eat the first fruits outside Jerusalem.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
272. To read the Torah portion pertaining to their presentation.
(Deuteronomy 26:5)
273. When baking, set aside some dough for the priesthood.
(Numbers 15:20)
274. To give the shoulder, two cheeks, and the stomach of a sacrificed animal to the priesthood.
(Deuteronomy 18:3)
275. To give the first shearing of sheep to the priesthood.
(Deuteronomy 18:4)
276. A father must redeem the firstborn son and give the money to the priesthood.
(Numbers 18:15)
277. To redeem each firstborn donkey with a lamb given to the priesthood.
(Exodus 13:13)
278. To break the neck of the firstborn donkey if the owner doesn’t redeem it.
(Exodus 13:13)
279. To rest the land during the seventh year and do no work, to allow for the rejuvenation of the earth.
(Exodus 34:21)
280. Not to work the land during the seventh year.
(Leviticus 25:4)
281. Not to work with trees (to produce fruit) during the seventh year.
(Leviticus 25:4)
282. Not to harvest wild crops in the seventh year.
(Leviticus 25:5)
283. Not to systematically pick fruit in the seventh year.
(Leviticus 25:5)
284. To leave untouched all produce that grew in the seventh year.
(Exodus 23:11)
285. To relax all loans in the seventh year.
(Deuteronomy 15:3)
286. Not to pressure the debtor in the seventh year.
(Deuteronomy 15:2)
287. Not to refrain from lending in the year of remission for fear of monetary loss.
(Deuteronomy 15:9)
288. The court must count and determine the year of the Jubilee.
(Leviticus 25:8)
289. The court must sanctify the fiftieth year.
(Leviticus 25:10)
290. To sound the ram’s horn on Yom Kippur of the Jubilee year, to free the slaves.
(Leviticus 25:9)
291. Not to work the land during the fiftieth year.
(Leviticus 25:11)
292. Not to reap or harvest in the fiftieth year.
(Leviticus 25:11)
293. Not to pick grapes in the usual way and to eat only directly from the vine in the fiftieth year.
(Leviticus 25:11)
294. Follow the laws of sold and family properties.
(Leviticus 25:24)
295. Not to sell land (in Israel) in perpetuity.
(Leviticus 25:23)
296. To follow the laws pertaining to houses in walled cities.
(Leviticus 25:29)
297. The Levites have no inheritance or allotment but will live in cities.
(Deuteronomy 18:2)
298. Levites will not partake in the spoils of war.
(Deuteronomy 18:1)
299. Levites are to be given cities and the surrounding fields.
(Numbers 35:2)
300. Not to sell the fields of the Levites, which will remain their possession before and after the Jubilee year.
(Leviticus 25:34)
301. To build a Sanctuary.
(Exodus 25:8)
302. Not to build the altar with stones hewn by metal.
(Exodus 20:22)
303. Not to climb steps to the altar.
(Exodus 20:23)
304. To show reverence for the temple.
(Leviticus 19:30)
305. Levites shall guard the temple area.
(Numbers 18:3)
306. Not to leave the temple unguarded.
(Numbers 18:5)
307. To blend the anointing oil.
(Exodus 30:31)
308. Not to duplicate the formula for the anointing oil.
(Exodus 30:32)
309. Not to anoint anyone who isn’t a priest or a king with it.
(Exodus 30:32)
310. Not to replicate the incense formula.
(Exodus 30:37)
311. Not to burn anything on the altar besides incense.
(Exodus 30:9)
312. The Levites carry the ark on their shoulders.
(Numbers 7:9)
313. Not to remove the poles from the ark.
(Exodus 25:15)
314. The Levites must work in the temple.
(Numbers 18:23)
315. There are specified duties for the Levites.
(Numbers 18:3)
316. The priest will be dedicated and must be treated as sacred.
(Leviticus 21:8)
317. The priestly work shifts must be equal during holidays.
(Deuteronomy 18:6-8)
318. The priests must wear their priestly garments during the service.
(Exodus 28:2)
319. The priestly garments must not be torn.
(Exodus 28:32)
320. The breastplate must not be loosened from the ephod.
(Exodus 28:28)
321. A priest must not enter the temple when drunk.
(Leviticus 10:9)
322. A priest must not enter the temple with unkempt hair.
(Leviticus 10:6)
323. A priest must not enter the temple with torn clothes.
(Leviticus 10:6)
324. A priest must not enter the sanctuary for no reason.
(Leviticus 16:2)
325. A priest must not leave the temple during the service.
(Leviticus 10:7)
326. To send the impure from the temple.
(Numbers 5:2)
327. Impure persons must not enter the temple.
(Numbers 5:3)
328. Unclean persons must not enter the Temple Mount area.
(Deuteronomy 23:11)
329. Unclean priests cannot do temple service.
(Leviticus 22:2)
330. An impure priest, after immersion, must not return to service until after sundown.
(Leviticus 21:6)
331. A priest must wash his hands and feet before ministering.
(Exodus 30:19)
332. A blemished priest must not enter the temple.
(Leviticus 21:23)
333. A blemished priest must not serve.
(Leviticus 21:17)
334. A temporarily blemished priest must not serve.
(Leviticus 21:18)
335. A non-priest must not serve.
(Numbers 18:4)
336. Blemished animals are unacceptable as offerings.
(Leviticus 22:21)
337. Not to dedicate a blemished animal for the altar.
(Leviticus 22:20)
338. An animal with a discharge must not be slaughtered.
(Leviticus 22:22)
339. Not to sprinkle the blood of a disabled animal.
(Leviticus 22:24)
340. Not to burn the fat of a defective animal.
(Leviticus 22:22)
341. Not to offer an animal with a temporary blemish.
(Deuteronomy 17:1)
342. Not to accept defective offerings even from foreigners.
(Leviticus 22:25)
343. Not to inflict wounds or commit damage upon dedicated animals.
(Leviticus 22:21)
344. To redeem disqualified dedicated animals.
(Deuteronomy 12:15)
345. To offer animals that are at least eight days old.
(Leviticus 22:27)
346. Not to offer animals purchased with the fees of a harlot or an animal exchanged for a dog.
(Deuteronomy 23:19)
347. Not to burn yeast or honey on the altar.
(Leviticus 2:11)
348. To salt all sacrifices.
(Leviticus 2:13)
349. Not to omit the salt from grain offerings.
(Leviticus 2:13)
350. To follow the burnt offering procedures as written in the Torah.
(Leviticus 1:3)
351. Not to eat the meat of a burnt offering.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
352. To carry out the procedure for a sin offering.
(Leviticus 6:18)
353. Not to eat the meat of a sin offering.
(Leviticus 6:23)
354. The priest shall not cut off the head of a bird (sin) offering.
(Leviticus 5:8)
355. To follow the procedures of the guilt offering.
(Leviticus 7:1)
356. The priests must eat the sacrificed meat in the temple.
(Exodus 29:33)
357. Priests must not eat the meat outside the temple.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
358. A non-priest must not eat the sacrificial meat.
(Exodus 29:33)
359. To follow the procedure of the peace offering.
(Leviticus 7:11)
360. Not to eat the meat of minor sacrifices before sprinkling the blood.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
361. To bring meal offerings in the prescribed manner.
(Leviticus 2:1)
362. Not to put oil on the meal offerings of wrongdoers.
(Leviticus 5:11)
363. Not to put frankincense on the meal offerings of wrongdoers.
(Leviticus 5:11)
364. Not to eat the cereal offering of the high priest.
(Leviticus 6:16)
365. Not to bake meal offerings with leaven.
(Leviticus 6:10)
366. The priests must eat the remains of the meal offerings.
(Leviticus 6:9)
367. To bring all freewill offerings to the temple and rejoice.
(Deuteronomy 12:5-6)
368. Not to withhold payment which fulfills a vow to God.
(Deuteronomy 23:22)
369. To offer all sacrifices in the temple.
(Deuteronomy 12:11)
370. To bring all votive offerings to the temple.
(Deuteronomy 12:26)
371. Not to slaughter sacrifices outside the courtyard of the temple.
(Leviticus 17:4)
372. Not to offer any sacrifices outside the courtyard of the temple.
(Deuteronomy 12:13)
373. To offer two lambs every day.
(Numbers 28:3)
374. To light a fire on the altar every day.
(Leviticus 6:5)
375. Not to extinguish this fire.
(Leviticus 6:5)
376. To remove the ashes from the altar every day.
(Leviticus 6:3)
377. To burn incense every day.
(Exodus 30:7)
378. To keep the light burning every day (in the candelabra).
(Exodus 27:21)
379. The High Priest must bring a meal offering every day.
(Leviticus 6:13)
380. To bring two additional lambs as burnt offerings on the Sabbath.
(Numbers 28:9)
381. To make and present the showbread.
(Exodus 25:30)
382. To bring additional offerings of the new moon.
(Numbers 28:11)
383. To bring additional offerings on Passover.
(Numbers 28:19)
384. To bring a wave offering from the meal of the new wheat.
(Leviticus 23:10)
385. To count the seven weeks from the new wheat offering to Pentecost (Shavuot).
(Leviticus 23:15)
386. To bring an additional offering on Shavuot (Pentecost).
(Numbers 28:26)
387. To offer two loaves, which must accompany the above sacrifices.
(Leviticus 23:18)
388. To bring additional offerings on Rosh Hashana, the New Year.
(Numbers 29:2)
389. To bring additional offerings on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
(Numbers 29:8)
390. To bring additional offerings on Sukkot, the Feast of Booths.
(Numbers 29:13)
391. To bring additional offerings on Shmini Atzeret, the eighth day of the Feast of Booths.
(Numbers 29:35)
392. Not to eat any unfit sacrifices.
(Deuteronomy 14:3)
393. Not to eat sacrifices offered with improper intentions.
(Leviticus 7:18)
394. To eat the Thanksgiving sacrifice on the day it was sacrificed.
(Leviticus 22:30)
395. Not to eat leftover sacrifices.
(Leviticus 19:8)
396. Not to eat from sacrifices that have become impure.
(Leviticus 7:19)
397. An unclean person cannot eat from sacrifices.
(Leviticus 7:20)
398. Sacrificial remains must be burned on the third day.
(Leviticus 7:17)
399. Impure sacrifices must be burnt.
(Leviticus 7:19)
400. To follow the priestly rituals of Yom Kippur.
(Leviticus 16:3)
401. One who uses the sacred property for personal use incurs a special penalty and sacrifice.
(Leviticus 5:16)
402. Not to work with consecrated animals.
(Deuteronomy 15:19)
403. Not to shear the fleece of consecrated animals.
(Deuteronomy 15:19)
404. To slaughter the Paschal sacrifice at the specified time.
(Exodus 12:6)
405. Not to slaughter the Paschal sacrifice while possessing leaven.
(Exodus 23:18)
406. Not to leave the fat overnight.
(Exodus 23:18)
407. To slaughter the second Paschal Lamb.
(Numbers 9:11)
408. The Paschal Lamb is to be eaten with matzoh on the night it was slaughtered.
(Exodus 12:8)
409. To eat the second Paschal Lamb on the night of the fifteenth of Iyar.
(Numbers 9:11)
410. To roast the Paschal Lamb and not eat it raw or boiled.
(Exodus 12:9)
411. No part of the Paschal Lamb may be removed from the house.
(Exodus 12:46)
412. An apostate must not eat from the Paschal Lamb.
(Exodus 12:43)
413. A hired servant or traveler must not eat from the Paschal Lamb.
(Exodus 12:45)
414. An uncircumcised male must not eat from the Paschal Lamb.
(Exodus 12:48)
415. No bone of the Paschal Lamb shall be broken.
(Exodus 12:46)
416. Not to break any bones from the second Paschal offering.
(Numbers 9:12)
417. Not to leave any of the Lamb over until morning.
(Exodus 12:10)
418. Not to leave the second Paschal meat until morning.
(Numbers 9:12)
419. Eat the Passover meat entirely on the night it is offered.
(Deuteronomy 16:4)
420. To be seen at the temple three times a year—Passover, Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks; and Sukkot, the Festival of Booths.
(Deuteronomy 16:16)
421. To celebrate and bring a peace offering in pilgrimage on these three festivals.
(Exodus 23:14)
422. To rejoice in these three festivals.
(Deuteronomy 16:14)
423. Not to appear at the temple for annual festivals without offerings.
(Deuteronomy 16:16)
424. Not to refrain from rejoicing with and giving gifts to the Levites.
(Deuteronomy 12:19)
425. Every seven years, on Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, assemble all the people and read the law.
(Deuteronomy 31:12)
426. To consecrate to God the firstborn of man and beast.
(Exodus 13:12)
427. The priests must not eat of the unblemished firstborn animals outside Jerusalem.
(Deuteronomy 12:17)
428. The firstborn of clean animals cannot be redeemed.
(Numbers 18:17)
429. Separate the tithe from the animals.
(Leviticus 27:32)
430. Do not exchange a good animal for a bad one for the tithe.
(Leviticus 27:33)
431. Every person must bring a sin offering for his transgression.
(Leviticus 4:27)
432. An unintentional sin requires a sin offering when discovered.
(Leviticus 5:17-18)
433. A guilt offering is required when one deals deceitfully.
(Leviticus 5:25)
434. For certain sins a wealthy person will offer an animal and the poor will offer doves, pigeons, or meals as prescribed.
(Leviticus 5:7-11)
435. The court must bring an offering when it rules in error or when the community sins.
(Leviticus 4:13)
436. A woman with an irregular discharge must bring an offering after she goes to the ritual bath.
(Leviticus 15:28-29)
437. A woman who gives birth must bring an offering after she immerses in the ritual bath.
(Leviticus 12:6)
438. A man who is cured of a chronic discharge must bring an offering after immersing in the ritual bath.
(Leviticus 15:13-14)
439. One who is cured of skin disease must bring an offering after immersing in the ritual bath.
(Leviticus 14:10)
440. Not to substitute another beast for one scheduled for sacrifice.
(Leviticus 27:10)
441. The new animal, along with the substituted one, retains consecration.
(Leviticus 27:10)
442. Not to change consecrated animals (from one type of offering to another).
(Leviticus 27:26)
443. Everyone under a roof with a corpse is unclean.
(Numbers 19:14)
444. Carry out the procedure of the Red Heifer.
(Numbers 19:9)
445. A clean person sprinkles water on those who are unclean.
(Numbers 19:21)
446. The priest’s role is governed by the law when dealing with matters of skin disease.
(Leviticus 13:12)
447. The afflicted must not remove the signs of impurity.
(Deuteronomy 24:8)
448. The afflicted must not shave signs of impurity in his hair.
(Leviticus 13:33)
449. A skin-diseased person will tear his clothes, grow his hair long, and cry out, “unclean, unclean.”
(Leviticus 13:45)
450. Carry out the procedure for purifying the person with skin disease.
(Leviticus 14:2)
451. The diseased person must shave off all his hair prior to purification.
(Leviticus 14:9)
452. To discover when a leprous infection is on a garment.
(Leviticus 13:47)
453. To discover when a house is infected by a skin disease.
(Leviticus 14:35)
454. To observe the laws of menstrual impurity.
(Leviticus 15:19)
455. To observe the laws of impurity caused by childbirth.
(Leviticus 12:2)
456. To observe the laws of impurity caused by an irregular discharge.
(Leviticus 15:25)
457. To observe the laws of impurity caused by a man’s chronic discharge.
(Leviticus 15:3)
458. To observe the laws of impurity caused by contact with a dead animal.
(Leviticus 11:39)
459. To observe the laws of impurity caused by contact with the eight (named) swarming creatures.
(Leviticus 11:29)
460. Observe the laws of impurity of seminal emission.
(Leviticus 15:16)
461. Observe the laws of impurity concerning liquid and solid foods.
(Leviticus 11:34)
462. Every impure person must immerse himself in a ritual bath to become pure.
(Leviticus 15:16)
463. The court must judge the damages incurred by a goring ox.
(Exodus 21:28)
464. The court must judge the damages incurred by an animal eating in another’s field.
(Exodus 22:4)
465. The court must judge the damages incurred by an open pit.
(Exodus 21:33)
466. The court must judge the damages incurred by the fire.
(Exodus 22:5)
467. Not to steal money stealthily.
(Leviticus 19:11)
468. The court must implement punitive measures against the thief.
(Exodus 21:37)
469. Each individual must ensure that his scales and weights are accurate.
(Leviticus 19:36)
470. Not to commit injustice with scales and weights.
(Leviticus 19:35)
471. Not to possess inaccurate weights and scales even if they are not for use.
(Deuteronomy 25:13)
472. Not to move a boundary marker to steal someone’s property.
(Deuteronomy 19:14)
473. Not to kidnap.
(Exodus 20:13)
474. Not to rob openly.
(Leviticus 19:13)
475. Not to withhold wages or fail to repay a debt.
(Leviticus 19:13)
476. Not to covet and scheme to acquire another’s possession.
(Exodus 20:14)
477. Not to desire another’s possession.
(Deuteronomy 5:18)
478. Return the robbed object or its value.
(Leviticus 5:23)
479. Not to ignore a lost object.
(Deuteronomy 22:3)
480. Return the lost object.
(Deuteronomy 22:1)
481. The court must implement laws against one who assaults another or damages another’s property.
(Exodus 21:18)
482. Not to murder.
(Exodus 20:13)
483. Not to accept money to save a convicted murderer.
(Numbers 35:31)
484. The court must send the accidental murderer to a city of refuge.
(Numbers 35:25)
485. Not to accept monetary restitution instead of sending the accidental murderer to, or releasing him from, a city of refuge.
(Numbers 35:32)
486. Not to kill the murderer before he stands trial.
(Numbers 35:12)
487. To save someone being pursued even by taking the life of the pursuer.
(Deuteronomy 25:12)
488. Not to pity the pursuer.
(Numbers 35:12)
489. Not to stand idly by if someone’s life is in danger.
(Leviticus 19:16)
490. Designate refuge cities and prepare routes of access.
(Deuteronomy 19:3)
491. When a murdered person is found in open country and the murder is unsolved, break the neck of a calf by the river valley.
(Deuteronomy 21:4)
492. Not to work that river valley or plant there.
(Deuteronomy 21:4)
493. Not to allow pitfalls and obstacles to remain on your property.
(Deuteronomy 22:8)
494. Make a guardrail around flat roofs.
(Deuteronomy 22:8)
495. Not to put a stumbling block before the blind.
(Leviticus 19:14)
496. Help another remove the load from a beast that can no longer carry it.
(Exodus 23:5)
497. Help others load their beasts.
(Deuteronomy 22:4)
498. Not to leave fallen beasts distraught with their burdens but help to load or unload.
(Deuteronomy 22:4)
499. Buy and sell according to Torah law.
(Leviticus 25:14)
500. Not to overcharge or underpay for an article.
(Leviticus 25:14)
501. Not to insult or harm anybody with words.
(Leviticus 25:17)
502. Not to cheat a sincere convert monetarily.
(Exodus 22:20)
503. Not to insult or harm a sincere convert with words.
(Exodus 22:20)
504. A Hebrew slave shall be released after six years.
(Exodus 21:2)
505. Not to sell him as a slave is sold.
(Leviticus 25:42)
506. Not to work the slave oppressively.
(Leviticus 25:43)
507. Not to allow a foreigner to work the slave oppressively.
(Leviticus 25:53)
508. Not to have the kinsman slave do menial slave labor.
(Leviticus 25:39)
509. Give the slave gifts when he goes free.
(Deuteronomy 15:14)
510. Not to send the freed slave away empty-handed.
(Deuteronomy 15:13)
511. Redeem Jewish maidservants.
(Exodus 21:8)
512. Betroth the Jewish maidservant.
(Exodus 21:8)
513. The master cannot resell a female servant.
(Exodus 21:8)
514. Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs.
(Leviticus 25:46)
515. Not to extradite a slave who fled to (Biblical) Israel.
(Deuteronomy 23:16)
516. Not to wrong a slave who has come to Israel for refuge.
(Deuteronomy 23:17)
517. The courts must carry out the laws of a hired worker and hired guard.
(Exodus 22:9)
518. Pay wages on the day they were earned.
(Deuteronomy 24:15)
519. Do not delay payment of wages past the agreed time.
(Leviticus 19:13)
520. The hired worker may eat from the unharvested crops where he works.
(Deuteronomy 23:25)
521. The worker must not eat while on hired time.
(Deuteronomy 23:26)
522. The worker must not take more than he can eat.
(Deuteronomy 23:25)
523. Not to muzzle an ox while plowing.
(Deuteronomy 25:4)
524. The courts must carry out the laws of a borrower.
(Exodus 22:13)
525. The courts must carry out the laws of the unpaid guard.
(Exodus 22:6)
526. Lend without interest to the poor.
(Exodus 22:24)
527. Not to press the poor for repayment.
(Exodus 22:24)
528. Press the idolater for payment.
(Deuteronomy 15:3)
529. The creditor must not forcibly take the collateral.
(Deuteronomy 24:10)
530. Return the collateral to the debtor when it is needed.
(Deuteronomy 24:13)
531. Not to delay returning the collateral when it is needed.
(Deuteronomy 24:12)
532. Not to demand collateral from a widow.
(Deuteronomy 24:17)
533. Not to demand as collateral utensils needed for preparing food.
(Deuteronomy 24:6)
534. Not to lend with interest within the community.
(Leviticus 25:37)
535. Not to borrow with interest.
(Deuteronomy 23:20)
536. Not to play any role in an interest loan.
(Exodus 22:24)
537. Lend to, and borrow from, idolaters at interest.
(Deuteronomy 23:21)
538. The court must carry out the laws of the plaintiff, admitted or denier.
(Exodus 22:8)
539. Carry out the laws of the order of inheritance.
(Numbers 27:8)
540. Appoint judges.
(Deuteronomy 16:18)
541. Not to appoint judges who are not familiar with judicial procedure.
(Deuteronomy 1:17)
542. Decide by majority in case of disagreement.
(Exodus 23:2)
543. The court must not execute through a majority of one, but at least a majority of two is required.
(Exodus 23:2)
544. A judge who presents a case for acquittal must not present an argument for conviction in capital cases.
(Exodus 23:2)
545. The court must carry out the death penalty of stoning.
(Deuteronomy 22:24)
546. The court must carry out the death penalty of burning.
(Leviticus 20:14)
547. The court must carry out the death penalty of the sword.
(Exodus 21:20)
548. The court must carry out the death penalty of strangulation.
(Leviticus 20:10)
549. The court must hang those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry.
(Deuteronomy 21:22)
550. Bury the executed on the day they were killed.
(Deuteronomy 21:23)
551. Not to delay the burial overnight.
(Deuteronomy 21:23)
552. The court must not let the sorcerer live.
(Exodus 22:17)
553. The court must flog the wrongdoer.
(Deuteronomy 25:2)
554. The court must not exceed the prescribed number of lashes.
(Deuteronomy 25:3)
555. The court must not kill anybody on circumstantial evidence.
(Exodus 23:7)
556. The court must not punish anybody who was forced to commit a crime.
(Deuteronomy 22:26)
557. The judge must not pity the murderer or assaulter at the trial.
(Deuteronomy 19:13)
558. The judge must not have mercy on the poor man at the trial.
(Leviticus 19:15)
559. The judge must not respect the great man at the trial.
(Leviticus 19:15)
560. The judge must not decide unjustly the case of the habitual transgressor.
(Exodus 23:6)
561. The judge must not pervert justice.
(Leviticus 19:15)
562. The judge must not pervert a case involving a convert or an orphan.
(Deuteronomy 24:17)
563. Judge righteously.
(Leviticus 19:15)
564. The judge must not fear a violent man in judgment.
(Deuteronomy 1:17)
565. Judges must not accept bribes.
(Exodus 23:8)
566. Judges must not accept testimony unless both parties are present.
(Exodus 23:1)
567. Not to curse judges.
(Exodus 22:27)
568. Not to curse the head of state.
(Exodus 22:27)
569. Not to curse a deaf person.
(Leviticus 19:14)
570. Anyone who knows evidence must testify at a trial.
(Leviticus 5:1)
571. Carefully interrogate the witness.
(Deuteronomy 13:15)
572. A witness must not serve as a judge in capital crimes.
(Numbers 35:30)
573. Not to accept testimony from a lone witness.
(Deuteronomy 19:15)
574. Transgressors must not testify.
(Exodus 23:1)
575. The litigant’s relatives cannot testify.
(Deuteronomy 24:16)
576. Not to testify falsely.
(Exodus 20:13)
577. Do to the false witness what he tried to do to the defendant.
(Deuteronomy 19:19)
578. Act according to the rulings of the high court.
(Deuteronomy 17:11)
579. Not to deviate from a legal discussion.
(Deuteronomy 17:11)
580. Not to add to the Torah commandments or their oral explanations.
(Deuteronomy 13:1)
581. Not to diminish any commandments from the Torah, in whole or in part.
(Deuteronomy 13:1)
582. Not to curse your father and mother.
(Exodus 21:17)
583. Not to strike your father and mother.
(Exodus 21:15)
584. Respect your father and mother.
(Exodus 20:12)
585. Fear your father and mother.
(Leviticus 19:3)
586. Not to behave like the rebellious son as described in the Torah.
(Deuteronomy 21:20)
587. Mourn for relatives—even priests.
(Leviticus 10:19)
588. The High Priest must not defile himself for any relatives.
(Leviticus 21:11)
589. The High Priest must not enter under the same roof as a corpse.
(Leviticus 21:11)
590. A priest must not defile himself for anyone other than his relatives.
(Leviticus 21:1)
591. Appoint a king from Israel.
(Deuteronomy 17:15)
592. Not to appoint a convert.
(Deuteronomy 17:15)
593. The king must not have too many wives.
(Deuteronomy 17:17)
594. The king must not have too many horses.
(Deuteronomy 17:16)
595. The king must not have too much silver and gold.
(Deuteronomy 17:17)
596. Destroy the seven Canaanite nations.
(Deuteronomy 20:17)
597. Not to let any of them remain alive.
(Deuteronomy 20:16)
598. Blot out the memory of Amalek.
(Deuteronomy 25:19)
599. Remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people.
(Deuteronomy 25:17)
600. Not to forget their atrocities and ambush on our journey from Egypt in the desert.
(Deuteronomy 25:19)
601. Not to dwell permanently in Egypt.
(Deuteronomy 17:16)
602. Offer peace terms to the residents of a city under siege and treat them according to the Torah if they accept surrender terms.
(Deuteronomy 20:10)
603. Not to offer peace to Ammon and Moab while besieging them.
(Deuteronomy 23:7)
604. Not to destroy fruit trees even during a siege.
(Deuteronomy 20:19)
605. Prepare latrines outside the camps.
(Deuteronomy 23:13)
606. Prepare a shovel for each soldier to dig with.
(Deuteronomy 23:14)
607. Appoint a priest to speak to the soldiers during war.
(Deuteronomy 20:2)
608. A newly married man who has built a home or planted a vineyard is exempt from the military to rejoice with his wife.
(Deuteronomy 24:5)
609. Not to conscript or involve the newly married man in military or communal service.
(Deuteronomy 24:5)
610. Not to panic and retreat during battle.
(Deuteronomy 20:3)
611. Carry out the laws of captive women.
(Deuteronomy 21:11)
612. Not to sell her into slavery.
(Deuteronomy 21:14)
613. Not to retain her for servitude after having relations with her.
(Deuteronomy 21:14)
- Abraham Ibn Ezra, Yesod Mora ve-Sod Torah, second Gate, pisqa 3-4, 91-92. What did Ibn Ezra mean by ha-iqarim, which we translated as “fundamental ones”? one of his uses of the term in the Fifth Gate (p. 121) can shed some light on this question. These iqarim are fundamental commandments that underpin our reasons for performing other commandments, such as creation, which we remember by observing the sabbath, and the exodus from Egypt, which we remember by observing passover, matzot, and tsitsit. It is those very general commandments that are included in this count that does not reach 613. see also the suggestions made by the editors (ad loc.). some texts read ‘asirit, “one-tenth,” instead of ’asuyot, “made,” the sense being that these commandments do not equal one-tenth of 613, or approximately sixty-one (121, notes to line 24). Hanina Ben-menahem has suggested (183n27) that the number sixty-one may not be as implausible as it sounds: perhaps this has some relationship to maimonides’ list of sixty obligatory positive commandments (which we will discuss in chapter 3). But surely this cannot be correct, since it is clear that Ibn Ezra was referring to the sum of positive and negative commandments, not just the sixty obligatory positive commandments! ↩︎
- The Babylonian gaon Hefets b. yatsliah was actually the first to propose that belief in God’s existence and His unity represent formal commandments. Hefets’ description of the first commandment was preserved for us by Judah b. Barzilai in his twelfthcentury commentary on Sefer Yetsirah. Judah ben Barzilai, Perush Sefer Yetsirah, 55-56. ↩︎
Tagged: Jewish Law