Sefer Hamitzvot Facts for Kids

Sefer Hamitzvot ("Book of Commandments" in Hebrew: ספר המצוות) is an important book written by a famous 12th-century rabbi, philosopher, and physician named Maimonides. When people say "Sefer Hamitzvot" without adding anything else, they usually mean Maimonides' book. It lists all the commandments found in the Torah, giving a short explanation for each one.

The book was first written in Arabic and called "Kitab al-Farai'd". Later, it was translated into Hebrew by Moses ibn Tibbon in the 13th century, and also by ibn Hasdai. A newer Hebrew translation was made by Rabbi Yosef Qafih from Yemen.

Understanding the Commandments: Maimonides' Rules
Important Commentaries on the Work
Why This Book Is Important Today
See also

Understanding the Commandments: Maimonides' Rules

In this book, Maimonides lists all 613 mitzvot (commandments) that are traditionally found in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible). He used fourteen special rules, called "principles" (or klalim in Hebrew), to decide which commandments to include. These rules helped him make sure his list was accurate and complete.

Here are some of the rules Maimonides followed:

Rule 1: No Rabbinic Commandments

Maimonides only counted commandments that come directly from the Torah. He did not count rules that were created later by rabbis.

Example: Lighting candles on Hanukkah or reading the Scroll of Esther on Purim are important traditions, but they were added by rabbis later, so they are not in Maimonides' list of 613 Torah commandments.

Rule 2: No Derived Commandments

Commandments that were figured out by interpreting other verses using special rules (like Rabbi Yishmael's 13 rules) were not counted separately.

Example: The idea of respecting Torah scholars was learned by interpreting the verse, "You must revere God your Lord." Since it's an interpretation, it's not counted as a separate commandment.

Rule 3: Only Permanent Commandments

Maimonides only included commandments that apply for all time. Rules that were only for a certain period or situation were not counted.

Example: The rule that Levites aged 50 or older could not serve in the Tabernacle (a portable temple) was only for a specific time and place, so it's not counted.

Rule 4: No General Commandments

Very broad commandments that cover almost everything else were not counted as individual rules.

Example: The command to "keep everything that I have instructed you" is too general. It includes all other commandments, so it's not a separate one.

Rule 5: Reasons Are Not Commandments

If the Torah gives a reason for a commandment, that reason itself is not counted as a new commandment.

Example: The Torah says a wife cannot remarry her first husband after marrying a second one. It then adds, "and do not bring guilt upon the land." This last part is the reason for the rule, not a new rule itself.

Rule 6: Positive and Negative Parts Count Separately

If a commandment has both a "do this" part (positive) and a "don't do that" part (negative), they are counted as two separate commandments.

Example: On Sabbath, the Torah commands us to rest (positive) and forbids us from working (negative). Resting is one commandment, and not working is another.

Rule 7: Details Are Not Separate Commandments

Different ways to fulfill one commandment, depending on the situation, are not counted as separate commandments. They are just details of the main rule.

Example: The Torah says certain sinners must bring an animal as a sin-offering. If they can't afford an animal, they can bring two birds. If they can't afford birds, they can bring flour. All these different options are part of one commandment about sin-offerings, not three separate ones.

Rule 8: "Is Not" vs. "Do Not"

A statement that something "is not" the case is different from a command that says "do not" do something. Only "do not" commands are counted.

Example: The Torah says a Jewish maidservant "shall not leave [her master] the way other slaves leave." This simply states a fact about her situation; it's not a command or a prohibition, so it's not counted.

Rule 9: Repeated Commands Count Once

Even if the same instruction or prohibition is mentioned many times in the Torah, it only counts as one commandment. Maimonides counted ideas, not how many times they were written.

Example: The Torah forbids eating blood in seven different places. But this prohibition is counted only once because it's the same rule.

Rule 10: Preparations Are Not Separate

Steps needed to prepare for a commandment are not counted as separate commandments.

Example: Priests were commanded to place special bread (lechem ha-panim) on the Table in the Tabernacle. The instructions on how to bake the bread are not counted as separate commandments.

Rule 11: Necessary Parts Are One Commandment

If several items or actions are needed together to fulfill one commandment, they are counted as one commandment, not many.

Example: For the holiday of Sukkot, people use the Four Species (a palm branch, myrtle, willow, and citron). These four items are considered one commandment because you need all of them to fulfill the rule.

Rule 12: Steps to Fulfill Are Not Separate

The different actions involved in carrying out a single commandment are not counted separately.

Example: The process of sacrificing a burnt-offering (`olah) involves slaughtering the animal, sprinkling its blood, and removing its hide. All these steps together count as one commandment for offering a burnt-offering.

Rule 13: Multi-Day Commands Count Once

A commandment that is performed over several days is still counted as only one commandment.

Example: The special mussaf offering brought during the seven days of Sukkot is counted as one commandment, even though the number of cows offered changes each day.

Rule 14: Each Punishment Form Is a Positive Commandment

When the Torah commands a court (Beit Din) to carry out a specific punishment, that command to punish is counted as a positive instruction.

Example: The Torah commands the court to apply capital punishment to a blasphemer or a Molech worshipper. This command to carry out the punishment counts as one positive commandment, even though it applies to different types of sinners.

Important Commentaries on the Work

Many other scholars have written about Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot. One famous commentary is by Nahmanides. Another is called Megillath Esther, and there are others like Lev Sameach and Kinath Soferim. Nahmanides also added a list of commandments he thought should have been included.

Why This Book Is Important Today

Sefer Hamitzvot is seen as the most trusted list of the Torah's commandments. Many later Jewish legal works use Maimonides' list as their main guide, sometimes with small changes.

Today, followers of the Chabad movement often study Maimonides' works daily, including Sefer Hamitzvot, thanks to the encouragement of the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Sefer Hamitzvot facts for kids

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