the Book of Education

Sefer ha-Chinuch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Sefer ha-Chinuch (Hebrew: ??? ???????, " Book of Education" ), often simply " the Chinuch" is a work which systematically discusses the 613 commandments of the Torah. It was published anonymously in 13th century Spain. The work's enumeration of the commandments (Hebrew: mitzvot?; sing. mitzvah) is based upon Maimonides' system of counting as per his Sefer Hamitzvot; each is listed according to its appearance in the weekly Torah portion and the work is structured correspondingly. [1]

The " Book of Education" separately discusses each of the 613 commandments, both from a legal and a moral perspective. For each, the discussion starts by linking the mitzvah to its Biblical source, and then addresses the philosophical underpinnings of the commandment (here, termed the " shoresh", or " root" ). Following this, the Chinuch presents a brief overview of the halakha (practical Jewish law) governing its observance - usually based on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah - and closes with a summary as to the commandment's applicability.

Because of this structure, the work remains popular to this day. The philosophic portions are widely quoted and taught, while the legal discussion provides the basis for much further study in yeshivot. The Minchat Chinuch by " Rabbeinu Yosef" (Yosef Ben Moshe Babad, 1800–1874), Av Beit Din of Ternopil, serves as a legal commentary.

Contents

1 Authorship

2 613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinuch[7]

3 See also

4 Notes

5 Resources

6 External links and references

Authorship

The sixteenth century author Gedaliah ibn Ya? yah credited the Sefer ha-Chinuch to Rabbi Aharon HaLevi of Barcelona (1235-c. 1290), a Talmudic scholar and halakhist; but others disagree, as the views of the Chinuch contradict opinions held by HaLevi in other works. [2] This has led to the conclusion that the true author to Sefer HaChinuch was a different Reb Aharon Halevi, a student of the Rashba, rather than his colleague. [3][4][5] Though there is a debate about who is the true author, it is agreed upon that the Sefer ha-Chinuch was written by a father to his son, upon reaching the age of Bar Mitzvah.

In 1980, Professor Israel Ta-Shma of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem argued that the author of " Sefer ha-Chinuch" was in fact Aaron's brother, Pinchas ben Joseph ha-Levi, who had written the work. [6]

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER ONE

Divisions 1-30

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

1. The precept to be " fruitful and multiply"

2. The precept of circumcision

3. Not to eat the sinew of the thigh-vein

4. The precept of sanctifying the new month

5. The precept of ritually slaying the Pesach offering

6. The precept of eating the flesh of the Pesach offering

7. Not to eat the Pesach offering underroasted or cooked

8. Not to leave over any flesh of the Pesach offering

9. The precept of removing chometz from one's possession

10. The precept of eating matzah on the first night of Pesach

11. That no chametz is to be found in our possession during Pesach

12. Not to eat anything during Pesach that has chametz in it

13. That we should not give a Jewish apostate any part of the Pesach offering to eat

14. That we should not give anything of the Pesach offering

to a partial proselyte and resident [a goy that rejects idol worship] to eat

15. Not to carry any flesh of the Pesach offering outside the house

16. Not to break any bone of the Pesach offering

17. That no uncircumcised person should eat of the Pesach offering

18. The precept of sanctifying firstborn animals in the land of Israel

19. Not to eat any chometz on Pesach

20. That no chometz should be seen with us during Pesach

21. That precept of recounting the exodus from Egypt

22. The precept of redeeming a firstborn donkey

23. The precept of beheading a firstborn donkey if it is not redeemed

24. That we should not go out beyond permitted limits on the Sabbath

25. The mitzvah of belief in the existence of the Eternal Lord, be He blessed

26. That we should not believe in any divinity but the Eternal Lord alone

27. Not to make a graven image

28. Not to prostate oneself in idol-worship

29. Not to worship an idol in the way it is customarily worshipped

30. Not to swear in vain

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER TWO

Divisions 31-65

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

31. The precept of hallowing the Sabbath in words

32. Not to do any work on the Sabbath

33. The precept of honoring one's father and mother

34. Not to murder an innocent man

35. Not to uncover the nakedness of another's wife

36. Not to kidnap any Jewish person

37. Not to bear false witness

38. Not to covet what belongs to another

39. Not to make carved human images, even for ornamentation

40. Not to build an altar of hewn stones

41. Not to stride by steps to the altar

42. The precept of the law of the Hebrew slave

43. The precept of marital designation of the Hebrew maidservant

44. The mitzvah of the redemption of the Hebrew maidservant

45. That one who buys a Hebrew maidservant from her father's hand may not sell her

46. Not to diminish (withhold) from one's wife food, clothing or conjugal due

47. The precept that the court is to execute by strangulation anyone punishable by death

48. Not to strike a father or mother

49. The precept of the laws of fines

50. The precept that the court should execute by the sword [decapitation] one punishable by this death

51. The duty of the court to judge damages by domestic animals

52. Not to eat an ox that was sentenced to death by stoning

53. The obligation of the court to judge damages done by a pit

54. The obligation of the court to judge a thief whether he has incurred a penalty, payment or deserves death

55. The obligation of the court to judge damages done by a domestic animal's eating or trampling

56. The obligation of the court to judge damage by fire

57. The obligation of the court to judge cases involving an unpaid custodian

58. The obligation of the court to judge the case of a plaintiff and a defendant

59. The obligation of the court to judge cases involving a paid custodian or a hirer

60. The obligation of the court to judge cases concerning a borrower of some object

61. The obligation of the court to judge the case of a seducer

62. Not allow a sorcerer to live

63. Not to verbally oppress a convert

64. Not to wrong a convert in matters of property

65. Not to afflict any orphan or widow

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER THREE

Divisions 66-90

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

66. The mitzvah of lending to the poor

67. That we should not demand payment of a debt from a poor man who has not the means to pay it

68. That we should not lend a hand to either a borrower or a lender for interest in effecting a loan between them

69. Not to curse a judge

70. The prohibition against cursing the name of the Eternal Lord

71. Not to curse a sovereign leader

72. Not to separate the dues from produce in improper order

73. Not to eat of an animal clawed by beasts

74. Not to hear the claim of a litigant when his opponent is not present

75. That a sinner should not give testimony

76. Not to follow a majority of judges in a capital case on the strength of a majority of one

77. That a judge who first argued for the innocence of the accused in a capital case should not then argue for his guilt

78. The precept of following the majority in rendering legal decisions

79. Not to take pity on a poor man in judgement

80. The mitzvah of unloading a burden from another's beast

81. Not to pervert justice in a sinner's trial because he is wicked

82. Not to decide a capital case on the basis of probability

83. Not to take any bribe

84. The precept of sh'mittah of the land - to leave its produce ownerless in the seventh, sabbatical year

85. The mitzvah of resting on the Sabbath

86. Not to swear by an idol

87. Not to lead Israelites astray into idolatry

88. The precept of chagigah, the celebrations offering, on the pilgrimage festivals

89. That we should not ritually slay the paschal lamb on the 14th of Nissah while there is yet chometz in our possession

90. That we should not let the parts to be burned on the altar for the Pesach offering become impermissble by being left overnight

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER FOUR

Divisions 91-120

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

91. The precept of bringing first fruits

92. Not to cook meat in milk

93. Not to make a covenant with the seven nations that were to be exterpated and also not with any idol-worshipper

94. Not to settle any idol-worshipper in our land

95. The precept of building the holy Temple

96. Not to remove the staves of the ark from it

97. The precept of arranging the showbread and the frankincense

98. The precept of preparing the lamps in the menorah in the Sanctuary

99. The precept that the kohanim should wear their special garments

100. That the breastplate should not come loose from the ephod worn by the kohen gadol

101. Not to tear the me'il (robe) of the kohanim

102. The precept to eat the flesh of the chattas sin-offering and the asham guilt-offering

103. The precept of burning incense

104. Not to burn alien incense or offer up sacrifices on the golden altar

105. The precept of giving half a shekel each year

106. The precept of hollowing rinsing hands and feet when ministering at the Sanctuary

107. The precept of anointing oil to apply to each kohen gadol and king

108. That an outsider (anyone but a kohen gadol or a king assuming his position) should not rub anointing oil on himself

109. Not to make anointing oil according to the Scriptural formula

110. Not to make incense according to the sacred formula

111. Not to eat or drink from an offering to an idol

112. The precept of letting the land rest, lie fallow in the year of sh'mittah

113. Not to eat meat and milk cooked together

114. That the court should not carry out a death penalty on the Sabbath

115. The precept of the sacrifice of the olah (burnt offering)

116. The precept of the minchah meal offering

117. Not to offer yeast or honey on the altar

118. Not to offer up any sacrifice without salt

119. The precept of salting an offering

120. The precept of the offering by the high supreme court if it erred in a ruling

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER FIVE

Divisions 121-145

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

121. The precept of the chattas sin-offering for an individual who unintentionally violated a negative precept over which when done intentionally one incurs kares

122. The precept of giving testimony

123. The precept of an oleh v'yored offering of greater or lesser value

124. Not to separate the head of a fowl brought as a chattas sin-offering

125. Not to put olive oil in the mincha meal offering of an unintentional sinner

126. Not to put frankincense in an unintentional sinner's minchah

127. The precept of adding a fifth of the value in repayment when one has eaten of sanctified food the kohen's hallowed portion or any sacred property or enjoyed its use

128. The precept of asham taluy, an offering for doubtful guilt

129. The precept of asham vaddai, an offering for certain guilt

130. The precept of returning property seized in robbery

131. The precept of lifting off the ash from the altar

132. The precept of kindling the fire on the altar

133. Not to extinguish the fire on the altar

134. The precept of eating the remainders of meal-offerings

135. Not to make the remainders of meal-offerings (minchah) become leavened

136. The precept of the daily meal-offering of the kohen gadol

137. That the meal-offering of a kohen should not be eaten

138. The precept of the procedure of the chattas sin-offering

139. Not to eat the flesh of any chattas whose blood is sprinkled within the Sanctuary

140. The precept of the procedure of the asham guilt-offering

141. The precept of the procedure of the sh'lamim peace-offering

142. Not to let any flesh of a todah thanksgiving-offering be left over past the time for eating it

143. The precept of burning the remnants of the sacred offerings

144. Not to eat piggul (vile meat) of an offering sacrificed with certain forbidden intentions

145. Not to eat the flesh of holy offerings that became defiled

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER SIX

Divisions 146-175

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

146. The precept of burning the holy flesh that became defiled

147. That we should not eat chelev forbidden animal fat

148. That we should not eat the blood of any beast or fowl

149. That the kohanim should not enter the Sanctuary with hair grown long

150. That the kohanim should not enter the Sanctuary with torn clothing

151. That the kohanim should not go out from the Sanctuary in midst of their holy service

152. That a kohen should not enter the Sanctuary having drunk wine, nor should any judge give a ruling while inebriated

153. The precept of examining the signs of domestic and wild animals which determine if they are kosher

154. Not to eat a non-kosher species of domestic or wild animal

155. The precept of examining the signs of fish which determine if they are kosher

156. Not to eat a non-kosher species of fish

157. Not to eat non-kosher species of fowl

158. The precept of examining the signs of locusts to see if they are kosher

159. The precept of the ritual uncleanness of eight crawling creatures

160. The precept regarding the ritual uncleanness of food

161. The precept regarding ritual uncleanness of animal carcasses

162. Not to eat creatures that swarm on the earth

163. Not to eat the species of minute insects that are engendered in grains and fruits

164. Not to eat of creatures that swarm in the water

165. Not to eat of swarming creatures that come into being from decay

166. The precept regarding the ritual uncleanness of a woman who gives birth

167. That a ritually unclean person should not eat of holy sacrifices

168. The precept of the offering brought by a woman who has given birth

169. The ritual uncleanness of a man with tzaras

170. Not to shave the hair of a nesex infection of head or beard

171. The precept of the practice by a man with tzaras or anyone who can defile others, to leave his hair untrimmed and his clothes torn

172. The precept regarding tzaras in clothing

173. The precept that ritual cleansing from a leporous ailment should be through certain specific ingredients

174. The precept of shaving of a man with tzaras on the 7th day of his ritual purification

175. The precept of ritual immersion in a mikveh for cleansing the defiled

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER SEVEN

Divisions 176-205

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

176. The precept of the offering of a man with tzaras when he is cured of his illness

177. The precept regarding the ritual uncleanness of a house contaminated with tzaras

178. The precept regarding the ritual uncleanliness of a person with a venereal discharge, that he is both the subject and cause of defilement

179. The precept of the offering by a person who has suffered a venereal discharge, when he is healed of his discharge

180. The precept concerning the ritual uncleanness of seminal fluid, that is unclean and defiles

181. The precept concerning the ritual uncleanness of a menstruant, that she is herself defiled and is a cause of defilement

182. The precept concerning the ritual uncleanness of a woman with an irregular discharge, that she is defiled and causes defilement

183. The precept of the offering by a woman who has suffered an irregular discharge, when she recovers from her discharge

184. That the kohanim should not enter the Sanctuary at all times but only for the Temple service, and all the more certainly not a non-kohane

185. The precept of the Temple service on the Day of Atonement

186. Not to ritually slay holy offerings outside the Sanctuary forecourt

187. The precept of covering the blood in ritual slaying (wild kosher animals and birds)

188. Not to have pleasure with anyone among all those who are ervah (of the same blood or origin type relations, married women, etc. )

189. Not to uncover the nakedness of one's father

190. Not to uncover the nakedness of one's mother

191. Not to uncover the nakedness of one's father's wife even if she is not his mother (Mother or Step Mother)

192. Not to uncover a sister's nakeness if she is his sister in any way

193. Not to uncover the nakedness of a son's daughter

194. Not to uncover the nakedness of a daughter's daughter

195. Not to uncover a daughter's nakeness

196. Not to uncover the nakedness of a sister on one's father's side, who is the daughter of his father's wife (Paternal Sister)

197. Not to uncover the nakedness of a father's sister (Paternal Aunt)

198. Not to uncover the nakedness of a mother's sister (Maternal Aunt)

199. Not to have carnal relations with one's father's brother (Paternal Uncle)

200. Not to be conjugally intimate with the wife on one's father's brother (Paternal Uncle's Wife)

201. Not to be conjugally intimate with a son's wife

202. Not to be conjugally intimate with a brother's wife

203. Not to be conjugally intimate with both a woman and her daughter

204. Not to uncover the nakedness of both a woman and the daughter of her son

205. Not to uncover the nakedness of both a woman and the daughter of her daughter

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER EIGHT

Divisions 206-235

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

206. Not to be conjugally intimate with two sisters while both are living

207. Not to be conjugally intimate with a menstruous woman

208. That we should not give any of our progeny to Molech

209. Not to have carnal connection with any male

210. Not to have carnal connection with any beast

211. That women should not lie carnally with beasts

212. The mitzvah to have yerah for father and mother

213. Not to turn astray after idol-worship, neither in thought nor in word, nor even by watching

214. Not to make an idol, neither for oneself nor for anyone else

215. Not to eat left-over meat of sacrifices after the permitted time

216. The mitzvah of leaving over an end of the field unreaped for the poor

217. Not to reap the very last end of one's field

218. The precept of leaving gleanings of the harvest for the poor

219. Not to gather stalks of grain that fell away during the harvest

220. The precept of leaving an end of a vineyard unreaped for the poor

221. Not to reap the very last end of a vineyard

222. The precept of leaving fallen grapes in the vineyard for the poor

223. Not to gather the fallen grapes in a vineyard

224. Not to steal anything of value

225. Not to deny it when something of value that belongs to another is in our possession

226. Not to swear over a false denial about something of value

227. That we should not swear falsely

228. Not to wrongly retain another's property

229. Not to commit robbery

230. That we should not delay payment of a hired man

231. Not to curse a Jew, whether man or woman

232. Not to make a trusting person stumble by giving him misleading advice

233. Not to pervert justice in a civil judgment

234. Not to honor an eminent person at a trial

235. The precept that a judge should pass judgment with righteousness

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER NINE

Divisions 236-260

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

236. Not to gossip slanderously

237. Not to stand by idly over the blood of a fellow-human's as it is spilled

238. Not to hate fellow Jews

239. The religious duty to rebuke a Jew who does not conduct himself properly

240. Not to shame a Jew

241. Not to take revenge

242. Not to bear a grudge

243. The precept of love for a Jew

244. Not to mate one beast with another which is not of the same species

245. Not to sow different kinds of seed together anywhere in the land of Israel nor should we graft a tree onto another of a different species

246. Not to eat the first three year's produce of a tree

247. The precept of the fruit of a tree's 4th year

248. Not to eat or drink in the manner of a glutton and guzzler

249. Not to practice divination from auspices or omens

250. Not to conjure

251. Not to round the corners of the head at the temples

252. Not to mar the corners of the beard

253. Not to inscribe a tattoo in our flesh

254. The precept of yirah for the Sanctuary

255. Not to perform the act of an ov (a medium)

256. Not to perform the act of a yidoni (a kind of wizard)

257. The mitzvah of honoring the wise scholars

258. Not to cheat with measures (includes all measures)

259. The precept of making scales, weights and measures correct

260. Not to curse one's father or mother

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER TEN

Divisions 261-295

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

261. The precept that whoever deserves death by burning is to be burned

262. Not to follow the customs of the nations

263. That an ordinary kohen should not defile himself for any dead person other than the relatives stated clearly in Scripture

264. The precept regarding the defilement of kohanim for their near relatives; included in this is the mitzvah that ever Jew should mourn for the specific six among his relations named in Scripture

265. That a kohen defiled for a day who undergoes ritual immersion to purify himself should not serve at the Sanctuary till the sun sets

266. That a kohen should not marry a wanton (a lewd or lascivious person)

267. That a kohen should not marry a profaned woman

268. That a kohen should not marry a divorced woman

269. The precept of the sanctification of Aaron's descendants

270. That a kohen gadol should not enter the tent of a dead man

271. That a kohen gadol should not defile himself with any ritual uncleanness for a dead man

272. The precept that a kohen gadol should marry a virgin

273. That a kohen gadol should not marry a widow

274. That a kohen gadol should not be conjugally intimate with a widow

275. That a kohen with a blemishing defect should not serve at the Sanctuary

276. That a kohen with a passing temporary blemish should not serve at the Sanctuary

277. That a kohen with a blemishing defect should not enter the holy Temple

278. That a ritually unclean kohen should not serve at the Sanctuary

279. That a ritually unclean kohen should not eat terumah (the kohen's portion from produce)

280. That no non-kohen whatever should eat terumah

281. That neither the permanent worker nor the hired man of a kohen should eat terumah

282. That an uncircumcised person should not eat terumah

283. That a profaned woman should not eat of hallowed food

284. Not to eat tevel produce which is produce that terumah and tithes were not separated

285. That we should not consecreate blemished, defective animals to offer them up on the altar

286. The precept that an animal offering is to be whole without blemish or disfigurement

287. That we should not make a blemishing defect in animals consecrated for holy things

288. That we should not sprinkle the blood of blemished, defective animals on the altar

289. That we should not ritually slay blemished, defective animals for holy offerings

290. That we should not burn the portions for the altar from blemished, defective animals

291. Not to emasculate any creature out of all the animal species

292. Not to offer up a blemished, defective offering received from goyim

293. The precept that an animal offering should be eight days old or more

294. Not to ritually slay an animal and its young in one day

295. Not to do anything that the Name of Heaven (God) will be profaned through among people

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER ELEVEN

Divisions 296-330

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

296. The mitzvah of sanctifying the name of God

297. The precept of resting from work on the first day of Pesach

298. Not to do any work on the first day of Pesach

299. The precept of the mussaf additional animal offering all the seven days of Pesach

300. The precept of resting from work on the seventh day of Pesach

301. Not to do any work on the seventh day of Pesach

302. The precept of the offering of the omer (sheaf) of barley on the second day of Pesach

303. Not to eat bread from the new crop of cereal grains before the end of the 16th of Nissan

304. Not to eat parched kernels (out from their shell) from the new crop until the end of that day (Flour Products)

305. Not to eat parched ears (grain on the stalks) from the new crop until the aforementioned time

306. The precept of counting 49 days from the offering of the omer

307. The precept of the minchah meal-offering of new wheat on the day of Shavuos

308. The precept of resting from work on the day of the Shavuos festival

309. Not to do any work on the day of the Shavuos festival

310. The precept of resting from work on Rosh haShanah

311. Not to do any work on the first day of Tishri (Rosh HaShana)

312. The precept of the musaf additional animal offering on Rosh HaShanah

313. The precept of fasting on the 10th of Tishri

314. The precept of the musaf additional offering on the tenth of Tishri

315. Not to do any work on the tenth of Tishri

316. Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur

317. The precept of resting from work on Yom Kippur

318. The precept of resting from work on the first day of Succos

319. Not to do any work on the first day of the Succos festival

320. The precept of the musaf additional offering on each of the seven days of the Succos festival

321. The precept of resting from work on the eighth day of Succos

322. The precept of the musaf additional offering on the eighth day of Succos which is Shmini Atzeres

323. Not to do any work on the eighth day of Succos

324. The precept of taking the lulav

325. The mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah

326. That we should not work the earth in the 7th sabbatical year

327. That we should not do any work in the 7th sabbatical year to trees either

328. That we should not harvest what grows wild in the seventh sabbatical year

329. That we should not gather the fruit of the tree in the seventh sabbatical year in the way that it is gathered every year

330. The precept of counting seven cycles of seven years

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER TWELVE

Divisions 331-355

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

331. The precept of sounding the shofar on Yom Kippur of the jubilee year

332. The precept of sanctifying the jubilee year

333. That we should not work the land in the jubilee year

334. That we should not harvest produce that grows wild in a jubilee year

335. Not to gather the fruit of trees in a jubilee year in the way that it is gathered in other years

336. The precept of effecting justice between buyer and seller

337. Not to wrong anyone by cheating in buying and selling

338. Not to oppress a Jew with words

339. That we should not sell a field in the land of Israel permanently

340. The precept of returning land to its original owners in the land of Israel in the jubilee year

341. The precept of redeeming inherited landed property which is within an originally walled city, until the completion of a year from its sale

342. Not to alter the open land around the cities of the Levites or their fields

343. Not to lend at interest to a Jew

344. That we should not have a Hebrew manservant do contemptible work like a Canannite slave

345. That we should not sell a Hebrew manservant at the selling-block like all slaves

346. Not to work a Hebrew manservant at hard labor

347. The precept of keeping a heathen slave permanently

348. Not to allow a non-Jew to work severely a Hebrew manservant who was sold to him

349. That we should not bow down to the ground on a figured stone even in worship to G-d

350. The precept of one who vows a man's value, he gives the value set in the Written Torah

351. That we should not exchange (replace) animals consecrated for holy offerings

352. The precept of one who exchanges an animal consecrated for an offering, for another one, that both should be sacred (Mitzvas Temurah)

353. The precept of one who vows an animal's value, he should give as the kohen values it

354. The precept of one who vows the valuation of a house, that he should give the value the kohen sets on it, with the addition of one-fifth of this value

355. The precept of one who vows the valuation of a field, that he should give according to the value set in the sidrah portion of Scripture

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Divisions 356-385

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

356. Not to change consecrated animals from one offering for which they were consecrated to another

357. The precept of one who vows a cherem on part of his property, it goes to the kohanim

358. That land put by its owner under cherem is not to be sold but rather given to Kohanim

359. That land under cherem is not to be redeemed

360. The precept of the tithe of clean permissible domestic animals to be given every year

361. That the tithe of animals is not to be sold but only eaten in Jerusalem

362. The precept of sending the ritually unclean outside the camp of the shechinah

363. That a ritually unclean person should not enter anywhere in the Sanctuary

364. The precept of confession over a sin

365. The precept of sotah (a straying woman suspected of infidelity), that her husband should bring her to the kohen and he should observe for her the rule of Scripture

366. Not to put oil into the offering of a sotah

367. Not to put frankincense in the offering of a sotah

368. That a nazir should not take wine or any strong drink derived from grapes

369. That a nazir should not eat fresh grapes

370. That a nazir should not eat raisins

371. That a nazir should not eat grape seeds

372. That a nazir should not eat grape skins

373. That a nazir should not shave his hair all his days as a nazir

374. The precept of letting a nazir's hair grow long

375. That a nazir should not enter the tent of a dead person

376. That a nazir should not become defiled by a dead person or by any other uncleanness

377. The precept of shaving a nazir's hair and bringing his offerings

378. The precept of the blessing of the kohanim to be given everyday

379. The precept of carrying the holy ark on the shoulders

380. The precept of Pesach shayni offering on the 14th of Iyar

381. The precept of eating the Pesach shayni offering with matzah and bitter herbs

382. Not to leave anything over of the Pesach shayni offering until the next day

383. To break none of the bones of the Pesach shayni offering

384. The precept of sounding the trumpets at the Sanctuary and in battle

385. The precept of challah (dough set aside for the kohen)

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Divisions 386-415

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

386. The precept of tzitzis on four cornered garments

387. Not to go straying after the thoughts of the heart and the sight of the eyes

388. The precept of guarding the Sanctuary

389. That the kohanim and the Levites should not engage in one another's tasks

390. That an outsider who is not a kohen should not work at the Sanctuary

391. Not to cease the guarding of the Sanctuary

392. The precept of redeeming a firstborn child

393. Not to redeem the firstling of a kosher domestic animal

394. The precept of the Levite's service at the Sanctuary

395. The precept of the First Tithe

396. The obligation of the Levites to give a tithe of the tithe

397. The precept of the red heifer

398. The precept of the ritual uncleanness of the dead

399. The precept of the lustral red heifer water, that it defiles a ritually clean man and purifies only a man defiled by the uncleanness of the dead

400. The precept of the laws of inheritance

401. The precept of the regular olah burnt offerings to be sacrificed every day

402. The precept of the musaf additional offering of Shabbos

403. The precept of the musaf additional offering of Rosh Chodesh

404. The precept of the musaf offering on the day of the Shavuos festival

405. The precept of sounding the shofar on Rosh HaShana

406. The precept of the law of nullifying vows

407. That we should not break our word in vows that we make

408. The religious duty of the Israelites to give the Levites cities to dwell in, which should give refuge to the unintentional manslayer

409. Not to execute a guilty person who deserves death, before he stands trial

410. The religious duty of the court to impel a person who has killed someone unintentionally to go to a city of refuge and the duty of the manslayer to go there

411. That a witness who testifies in a trial for a capital crime should not speak in judgment

412. To take no ransom to save a killer from the death he deserves

413. To take no ransom from someone sentenced to banishment to a city of refuge in order to free him from the banishment

414. Not to appoint any man as judge who is not learned in the laws of the Torah, even though he is learned in other wisdoms

415. That a judge presiding at a trial should not fear any evil man

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Divisions 416-435

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

416. Not to desire what belongs to our fellow-Israelites

417. The precept of the oneness of G-d

418. The precept of love for G-d

419. The precept of Torah study

420. The mitzvah of reciting the Sh'ma every morning and evening

421. The precept of the t'fillin of the hand

422. The precept of the t'fillin of the head

423. The precept of the mezuzah on the doorpost

424. Not to test a true prophet unduly

425. The precept of killing out the seven nations

426. To show no mercy to idol-worshippers

427. To form no marital bonds with idol-worshippers

428. Not to derive benefit from any ornament for an idol

429. Not to attach any object whatsoever from idolatry to our possessions and our ownership, to derive benefit from it

430. The precept of blessing G-d for food

431. The precept of love for a convert to Judaism

432. The precept of having yirah of G-d

433. The precept of prayer

434. The mitzvah of associating with and adhering to Torah scholars

435. The precept that whoever must take an oath should swear by the name of G-d

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Divisions 436-455

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

436. The precept to destroy an idol and all objects in its service

437. Not to erase holy writings or written names of G-d, blessed be He (this also applies to houses of sacred worship)

438. The religious obligation to present all obligatory or voluntary offerings which a man is to bring, at the first pilgrimage festival that comes along

439. Not to bring sacrifices as burnt holy offerings outside the Sanctuary

440. The precept to bring up all holy sacrifice burnt offerings at the Sanctuary and not anywhere outside it

441. The precept to redeem animals consecrated for offerings which have become blemished, defective; and afterward they are permitted to be eaten

442. Not to eat the Second Tithe of grain outside Jerusalem

443. Not to consume the Second Tithe of wine outside Jerusalem

444. Not to consume the Second Tithe of oil outside Jersalem

445. Not to eat an unblemished firstborn animal outside Jerusalem

446. Not to eat the flesh of the chattas sin-offering and asham guilt-offering beyond the boundaries of the Sanctuary precincts - not even the kohanim

447. Not to eat the flesh of the olah burnt-offering

448. Not to eat the flesh of offerings of lesser holiness before the sprinking of their blood on the altar

449. That the kohanim should not eat bikkurim before they are set down before the Lord in the Sanctuary forecourt

450. Not to neglect the Levites by failing to give them their gifts and make them happy on the pilgrimage festivals

451. The precept of shechitah

452. Not to eat a limb or part taken from a living animal

453. The precept to attend to bringing an animal offering from outside the land of Israel to the Sanctuary

454. Not to add to the precepts of the Torah

455. Not to diminish from the precepts of the Torah

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Divisions 456-490

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

456. To pay no heed to anyone prophesizing in the name of an idol

457. To have no affection for an enticer to idolatry

458. Not to relinquish hatred for an enticer to idolatry

459. Not to rescue an enticer to idol-worship from the death penalty

460. That someone enticed to idolatry should not speak in favor of the enticer

461. That a person enticed to idol-worship should not be silent and refrain from speaking against the enticer

462. Not to entice an Israelite toward idol-worship

463. The precept of examining witnesses thoroughly

464. The precept of burning a city gone astray into idolatry with all it contains

465. Not to rebuild a city gone astray into idolatry to its former condition

466. Not to derive any benefit from the wealth of a city gone astray into idolatry

467. Not to gash oneself as idol-worshippers do

468. Not to cause baldness (tearing the hair in grief) over the dead

469. Not to eat holy offerings that became disqualified

470. The religious duty of examining the signs of a fowl if it may be eaten

471. Not to eat unclean non-kosher locusts, nor any winged insects

472. Not to eat the flesh of any domestic or wild beasts, or fowl, that died of themselves

473. The precept of the Second Tithe

474. The precept of the tithe for the poor, given in place of Second Tithe in the third year

475. Not to demand payment of a loan over which the seventh year has passed

476. The precept of exacting a loan rigorously from a heathen

477. The precept of relinquishing money owed in the seventh year

478. Not to refrain hard-heartedly from sustaining a poor man and giving him what he needs

479. The mitzvah of charity

480. That we should not refrain from lending money to the poor on account of the arrival of shmittah

481. Not to send away a Hebrew bondservant, when he goes free, empty-handed

482. The precept of giving a bonus to a Hebrew bondservant at his discharge

483. To do no work with animals consecrated for offerings

484. Not to shear animals consecrated for offerings

485. Not to eat chametz after midday on the day before Pesach

486. Not to leave over till the third day any flesh of the festival offering korban chagigah that we sacrifice on the fourteenth day of Nissan

487. Not to offer up a Pesach offering on the provisional altar of an individual

488. The precept to rejoice on the pilgrimage festivals

489. The precept to appear on the pilgrimage festivals at the Temple

490. Not to go up to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage festival without provision for an offering, that we would offer up there

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Divisions 491-525

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

491. The precept of appointing judges and officers in every single community in Jewry

492. Not to plant any tree in the Sanctuary

493. Not to erect any idolatrous type of pillar

494. Not to present as an offering an animal with a passing temporary blemishing defect

495. The religious duty to hearken to every great beis din that will arise to the Israelites in every period

496. Not to disobey the word of the great beis din that arise for the Israelites

497. The precept of appointing a king over us

498. Not to appoint anyone king over Israel except a native Israelite

499. That the king should not amass horses beyond his needs

500. Not to ever dwell in the land of Egypt

501. That the king should not take himself an unduly large number of wives

502. That the king should not amass gold and silver inordinately, but only what he finds necessary

503. The religious duty of the king to write one Torah scroll more than the one that the rest of the Israelites are required to write

504. That the tribe of Levi should have no inheritance of land in the land of Israel

505. That the tribe of Levi should take no share of the booty during the conquest of the land

506. The precept of giving the shoulder, two cheeks and stomach of an offering to the kohen

507. The religious duty of separating the great terumah (the kohen's portion from produce)

508. The precept of the first of the fleece, that it should be given to the kohen (Rashis HaGeiz)

509. The precept that the kohanim should work at the Sanctuary in watches and at festival times they should work in unison all together

510. Not to practice divination

511. Not to practice sorcery (Kishuf)

512. Not to employ charms

513. Not to consult an ov (a kind of medium)

514. Not to consult a yidoni (a kind of wizard)

515. Not to seek contact with the dead (Doresh El HaMeisim)

516. The precept to heed every single prophet who will be in every generation, provided he does not add anything to or take anything away from the precepts of the Torah

517. Not to prophesize falsely

518. Not to prophesize in the name of an idol

519. That we should not refrain from putting a false prophet to death and not be afraid of him

520. The precept to prepare six cities of refuge

521. To have no mercy on a person who inflicts mortal injury in the ensuing capital trial

522. Not to overreach one's boundary to falsely claim another's property (Hasagas Gvul)

523. Not to pass judgment on the word of one witness

524. The precept to do to false scheming witnesses as they intended to do to their victim through their testimony

525. Not to quail in fear before an enemy in battle

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER NINETEEN

Divisions 526-555

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

526. The precept to anoint a kohen for war (Mashuach Milchama)

527. The precept to act in a voluntary war according to the rules of Scripture

528. To let no one in the seven nations that originally inhabited the Land of Israel stay alive

529. Not to destroy fruit-bearing trees in setting siege; and so is every kind of purposeless destruction included in this ban (Baal Tashchis)

530. The precept of beheading the heifer in a riverbed

531. Not to plow or sow in the coursing riverbed where the heifer's neck was broken

532. The precept of the law of a beautiful woman taken captive in war (Yefas Toar)

533. Not to sell a beautiful women taken captive in war

534. Not to make a beautiful captive woman work as a slave after one has been conjugally intimate with her

535. The precept of the law of hanging someone after his execution when it is required (Mitzvas Teliyah)

536. That someone hung should not be left overnight on the gallows; nor should any dead man be left overnight in his house, unless it is for his honor

537. The precept of burial the same day, speedily for anyone put to death by court sentence and so for every deceased person

538. The religious duty of returning something lost to its owner

539. Not to turn a blind eye to a lost object

540. Not to leave a fellow's beast lying under its burden

541. That precept of lifting up a load for an Israelite

542. That a woman should not wear a man's garb

543. That a man should not wear a woman's garb

544. Not to take the mother-bird with the young in a nest

545. The precept of sending away the mother-bird from the nest

546. The religious duty of building a fence around a roof

547. Not to leave a stumbling-block (keep a dangerous object) about

548. Not to sow mixed kinds of seeds in a vineyard in the land of Israel, by the Torah's law

549. Not to eat the produce of mixed kinds of seeds grown in a vineyard in the land of Israel

550. Not to do work with two kinds of animals together

551. Not to wear cloth of wool and linen

552. The precept of the marriage rite in taking a wife (Kiddushin)

553. The precept that the wife of one who spreads an evil report that she was immoral is to remain with him permanently (Motzi Shame Ra)

554. That one who spreads an evil report that she was immoral is not to divorce his wife

555. The duty of the court to have anyone who merits stoning stoned to death

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER TWENTY

Divisions 556-590

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

556. Not to punish anyone compelled to transgress

557. The duty of a rapist to take his victim for a wife

558. That a rapist is not ever to divorce his victim

559. That an emasculated man (Saris) is not to take any Israelite woman in marriage

560. That a bastard from an adulterous or incestuous union should not marry any native daughter of Israel

561. That no Ammonite or Moabite may marry a daughter of Israel

562. Not to ever offer peace to Ammon or Moab before a war

563. Not to exclude the progeny of Esau from intermarrying with the progeny of Israel, after they have been converted to Judaism, past two generations

564. To exclude an Egyptian only up to the third generation, but not including the third generation

565. That a ritually unclean person should not enter the camp of the Levites (the Temple Mount)

566. The precept to prepare a place of easement in a camp

567. The precept to prepare a boring-stick (spade) for easement in a camp

568. Not to return a slave who fled from his master, from outside the land to the land of Israel

569. Not to oppress this slave who flees from his master, from outside the land to the land of Israel

570. That there should be no " harlot" in Jewry (no woman conjugally intimate out of wedlock) (Issur Kidaisha)

571. Not to bring the wage of a harlot or the exchange price of a dog as an offering at the Sanctuary

572. Not to borrow at interest from an Israelite

573. The precept of lending to a heathen at interest if he needs to borrow money, which is not the case with an Israelite

574. Not to be overly tardy with vowed and voluntary offerings

575. The religious duty of fulfilling whatever goes out from one's lips as a vow

576. The duty that lies upon us to allow a hired worker to eat certain things (produce) while he is under hire to work on it

577. That a hired man should not raise a sickle to his fellow-man's employer's standing grain to save it for himself

578. That a hired man should not eat from his employer's crops at the time of his actual work

579. The precept that one who wants to divorce his wife should do so with a proper document

580. That a divorced man should not take back his ex-wife after she has been wed (and again divorced or widowed)

581. That a bridegroom is not to be taken out of his house for any lengthy purpose the entire first year of his marriage.

582. The precept that a bridegroom should rejoice with his wife the first year of their marriage

583. Not to take a pledge (pawn) any objects with which sustaining food is prepared

584. Not to pluck out signs of a tzaras infection

585. That a private individual is not to take an object in pledge from a debtor by force

586. Not to withhold a pledged (pawned) object from its owner at the time he needs it

587. The religious duty of returning a pledged object to its owner at the time he needs it

588. The precept of giving a hired man his pay on the same day when he has earned it

589. That a near relation of a person involved in a trial should not give testimony

590. Not to pervert justice in regard to a convert or an orphan

613 Commandments of the Sefer Ha-Hinnuch CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Divisions 591-613

the Book of Education

613 COMMANDMENTS OF EDUCATION

591. Not to take anything in pledge from a widow

592. The precept of leaving forgotten sheaves on the field for the poor

593. Not to take a forgotten sheaf of grain or forgotten fruit from trees

594. The precept of flogging for the wicked

595. Not to add to the flogging due someone who merits flogging; included in this is the injunction that we should not strike any Jew

596. Not to muzzle a domestic animal during its work

597. That a yevamah (childless widow) should not marry anyone other than the yavam (her husband's brother)

598. The precept of the levirate marriage

599. The precept of chalitzah to release a childless widow from the obligation of leverate marriage

600. The religious duty to save a person pursued by a killer by attacking him

601. To have no mercy on a pursuer with intent to kill

602. That we should not keep deficient scales or weights with us, even if we will not use them in trading

603. The religious duty to remember what Amalek did to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt

604. The precept to eradicate the progeny of Amalek

605. That we should not forget the deed of Amalek that he wrought our forefathers when they came out of Egypt

606. The precept of the recital over bikkurim

607. The precept of the avowal over the tithes

608. Not to eat the Second Tithe while in aninus grief over the death of a close kin

609. Not to eat the Second Tithe in ritual uncleanness

610. Not to spend the money that the Second Tithe was exchanged for

on any things other than food or drink

611. The precept to emulate the good and right ways of God

612. The precept to assemble the entire people to hear the Torah read directly after the 7th year

613. The religious duty for every Jew to write a Torah scroll for them to have a copy