Tag

Commandments

6 articles

intermediate

The 613 Commandments: The Framework of Jewish Life

Judaism identifies 613 commandments in the Torah — 248 positive and 365 negative — covering everything from prayer and charity to agriculture and justice.

commandmentsmitzvot613
intermediate

Oaths and Vows in Judaism: Why Words Are Sacred

Why Judaism takes spoken words so seriously — the power of oaths and vows, the difference between neder and shvua, the Kol Nidre prayer, and the Nazir vow.

oathsvowskol-nidre
beginner

Tzitzit: The Sacred Fringes That Remind

Dangling from the corners of garments worn by observant Jews, tzitzit are one of the most visible daily reminders of the covenant — a commandment you can literally see and touch.

tzitzittallit katanfringes
intermediate

The Ten Commandments: A Deep Dive into Each One

Each of the Ten Commandments analyzed in depth — original Hebrew, Talmudic interpretation, ethical meaning, modern application, and how Jewish and Christian versions differ.

ten-commandmentstorahsinai
intermediate

Pikuach Nefesh: Saving a Life

Pikuach nefesh — the obligation to save a life — is the most powerful principle in Jewish law, overriding nearly every commandment including Shabbat, Yom Kippur fasting, and kashrut.

pikuach-nefeshethicshalakha
beginner

Why Jews Value Education: Two Thousand Years of 'Study Is Equal to All'

Judaism made universal education a religious obligation two millennia before any other civilization. Explore why the Jewish obsession with learning shaped everything from Nobel Prizes to the 'my son the doctor' stereotype.

educationtalmud-torahliteracy