Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Hilchot Teshuvah
The Laws of Teshuvah
[They contain] one mitzvah, that a sinner should repent before God
from his sin and confess.
Hilchot Berachot
The Laws of Blessings
[They contain] one positive commandment, to bless His name after
eating.
Hilchot Milah
The Laws of Circumcision
[They contain] one positive commandment, to circumcise males on the
eighth day.
Hilchot Shabbat
The Laws of the Sabbath
They contain five mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and three negative commandments.
They are:
1. To rest on the seventh [day]
2. Not to do work on it
3. [For the court] not to inflict punishment on the Sabbath
4. Not to travel beyond the limits [of one's place] on the Sabbath
5. To sanctify the day by remembering it.
Hilchot Eruvin
The Laws of Eruvin
[They contain] one positive commandment, which is Rabbinic in origin
and is not included among [the 613 commandments of the Torah].
Hilchot Shekalim
The Laws of the [Half-] Shekel
[They contain] one positive commandment, for each man to give a
half-shekel each year.
Hilchot Ishut
The Laws of Marriage
They contain four mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and two negative commandments.
They are:
1. To marry a woman with a marriage contract and a marriage
ceremony
2. Not to engage in sexual relations with a woman without a marriage
contract and a marriage ceremony
3. Not to withhold living expenses, clothing, and conjugal rights [from
one's wife]
4. To be fruitful and multiply with her.
Hilchot Gerushin
The Laws of Divorce
They contain two mitzvot:
1. A positive commandment, for a man to divorce [his wife] with a get
2. For a man who divorces his wife not to remarry her after she has
married another person.
Hilchot Sotah
The Laws Pertaining to a Sotah
They contain three mitzvot:
One positive commandment and two negative commandments.
They are:
1. To perform the ritual associated with [the testing of] a Sotah, [a
woman who aroused her husband's] jealousy, as prescribed by the
Torah
2. Not to place oil on her sacrifice
3. Not to place frankincense on her sacrifice.
Thus, this book contains a total of 17 of the Torah's commandments:
nine positive commandments and eight negative commandments.
Sefer Kedushah
The Book of Holiness
It contains three halachot. They are, in order:
Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah - The Laws of Forbidden Intimate Relations
Hilchot Ma'achalot Asurot - The Laws of Forbidden Foods
Hilchot Shechitah - The Laws of Ritual Slaughter.
Hilchot Sh'vuot
The Laws of Oaths
They contain five mitzvot:
One positive commandment and four negative commandments.
They are:
1. Not to swear in [God's] name falsely
2. Not to take [God's] name in vain
3. Not to deny [having received] an entrusted object
4. Not to swear [falsely] when denying financial obligations
5. To swear truly in [God's] name.
Hilchot Nedarim
The Laws of Vows
They contain three mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and one negative commandment.
They are:
1. To fulfill one's word and observe a vow which one takes
2. Not to violate one's word
3. To nullify a vow or an oath. This is the law of nullifications of vows,
as explicitly stated in the Torah.
Hilchot Nazir
The Laws of Nazarites
They contain ten mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and eight negative commandments.
They are:
1. For a nazir to let his hair grow long
2. For a nazir not cut his hair throughout the duration of his vow
3. [For a nazir] not to drink wine or a mixture of wine even after it has
become vinegar
4. [For a nazir] not to eat fresh grapes
5. [For a nazir] not to eat raisins
6. [For a nazir] not to eat grape seeds
7. [For a nazir] not to eat grape peels
8. [For a nazir] not to enter the place of a corpse
9. [For a nazir] not to become impure because of a corpse
10. [For a nazir] to shave [his hair] over his sacrifices when he
completes his nazirite [vow] or if he becomes impure.
Hilchot Kilayim
The Laws of Mixing Forbidden Species
They contain five negative commandments.
They are:
1. Not to sow different species of produce
2. Not to sow grain or vegetables in a vineyard
3. Not to crossbreed different species of animals
4. Not to work with two different species of animals together
5. Not to wear [a garment made] from a forbidden mixture of fabrics.
Hilchot Terumot
The Laws of Terumah
They contain eight mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and six negative commandments.
They are:
1. To separate the Great Terumah
2. To separate terumah from the tithes
3. Not to separate one of the terumot or tithes before the proper one,
but rather to separate all the obligations in order
4. For an unauthorized person not to eat terumah
5. For even a priest's tenant or hired worker not to eat terumah
6. For an uncircumcised person not to eat terumah
7. For a priest who is ritually impure not to eat terumah
8. For a chalalah not to eat terumah or partake of the sacred offerings.
Hilchot Ma'asrot
The Laws of Tithes
[They contain] one mitzvah, to separate the first tithe each year the
land is tilled and give it to the Levites.
Hilchot Bikkurim
The Laws of the First Fruits (and also the Laws Governing the other
Presents Given to the Priests)
They contain nine mitzvot:
Eight positive commandments and one negative commandment.
They are:
1. To separate the first fruits and bring them to the Temple
2. For a priest not to partake of the first fruits outside of Jerusalem
3. To recite the declaration (associated with the first fruits)
4. To separate challah [and give it] to a priest
5. To give the shankbone, jaw, and maw to a priest
6. To give him the first shearings [of our flocks]
8. To redeem a firstling donkey and give the animal [with which it is]
redeemed to the priest
9. To decapitate a firstling donkey if one does not
want to redeem it.
Hilchot Shemitah V'Yovel
The Laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years
They contain 22 mitzvot:
Nine positive commandments and 13 negative commandments.
They are:
1. To allow the land to rest from all [agricultural] work in the seventh
year
2. Not to do any [agricultural] work on the land during this year
3. Not to do any [agricultural] work with trees during this year
4. Not to harvest produce that grows on its own in the normal manner
5. Not to harvest the vines in the normal manner
6. To renounce ownership over all of the earth's produce
7. To renounce all debts [owed one]
8. Not to demand payment or seek to collect a debt
9. Not to withholding lending money before the shemitah year, lest
one's money be lost
10. To count the years [in cycles of] seven
11. To sanctify the fiftieth [Jubilee] year
12. To blow the shofar on the tenth of Tishrei [of the Jubilee], so that
so that the [Hebrew] servants will be released
13. Not to work the land in this year
14. Not to harvest produce that grows on its own in the normal manner
15. Not to harvest the vines in the normal manner
16. To release the land in this year. These are the laws of ancestral
property and purchased property
17. For the land not to be sold permanently
18. The laws governing houses in a walled city
19. For the tribe of Levi not to be given an inheritance in Eretz Yisrael.
Instead, they are given gifts of cities in which to dwell.
20. For the tribe of Levi not to be given a portion of the spoils [of war]
21. To give the Levites cities in which to dwell and [to give them] open
land [around these cities]
22. For these open lands never to be sold [in a permanent manner],
but rather for them to be able to be redeemed at all times, both before
the Jubilee year and afterwards.
Hilchot Me'ilah
The Laws of Misuse of Sacred Property.
They contain three mitzvot:
One positive commandment and two negative commandments.
They are:
1. For a person who sins by misusing sacred property to make
recompense, adding a fifth [of the article's value] and offering a
sacrifice. This is the law pertaining to a mo'il.
2. Not to work with animals which were consecrated
3. Not to shear animals which were consecrated.
Hilchot Chaggigah
The Laws of the Festive Offering
They contain six mitzvot:
Four positive commandments and two negative commandments.
They are:
1. To present oneself before God
2. To celebrate on the three pilgrimage festivals
3. To rejoice on the festivals
4. Not to appear [before God] empty-handed
5. Not to abandon the Levi, but rather to have him rejoice and give him
the presents due him on the festivals
6. To gather together the people during the Sukkot festival during the
year following the shemitah year.
Hilchot Bechorot
The Laws of the Firstling Animals
They contain five mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and three negative commandments.
They are:
1. To separate the firstling animals [as a sacrifice]
2. Not to partake of an unblemished firstling animal outside of
Jerusalem
3. Not to redeem a firstling animal
4. To separate the tithes of one's herds
5. Not to redeem the tithes of one's herds
I have included the laws of the tithes of one's herds together with the
laws of the firstling animals, because the same procedure is followed
with regard to both of them. The Torah also groups the two together in
the verse (Numbers 18:17): "And you shall dash their blood...."
According to the oral tradition, we learn that this refers to the blood of
the tithes and the blood of the firstling animals.
Hilchot Shegagot
The Laws of the Offerings [to Atone for] Unintentional Transgression
They contain five positive commandments. They are:
1. That a person who inadvertently violates a transgression should
bring a fixed sin offering
2. That a person who does not know whether or not he violated a
transgression should bring a guilt offering unless he discovers that he
definitely transgressed, at which time he must bring a sin offering. This
[guilt offering] is referred to as "the conditional guilt offering."
3. That a person who commits certain sins should bring a guilt offering
[to atone] for their violation. This is referred to as "the definite guilt
offering."
4. For a person who commits certain sins to offer [a sacrifice in]
atonement. If he is rich, he should offer an animal, if he is poor, a fowl
or the tenth of an ephah [of meal]. This is referred to as "the
adjustable guilt offering."
5. For the Sanhedrin to offer a sacrifice if they render an erroneous
decision regarding one of the serious matters [of Torah law].
Hilchot Temurah
The Laws of [Offerings which were] Substituted [One for Another]
They contain three mitzvot:
One positive commandment and two negative commandments.
They are:
1. Not to substitute [another animal for one designated as a sacrifice]
2. For an animal that was substituted [for one designated as a
sacrifice] to be considered consecrated
3. Not to change animals that were consecrated from one category of
holiness to another.
Hilchot Kelim
The Laws of [the Ritual Impurity] Contracted by Vessels
The intent of these laws is to know which vessels can contract the
above-mentioned impurities and which do not, and how the vessels
contract and impart ritual impurity.
Hilchot Mikvaot
The Laws of Mikvaot
[They contain] one positive commandment, that all those who are
impure should immerse themselves in the waters of a mikveh [to]
regain purity afterwards.
Hilchot Geneivah
The Laws of Theft
They contain seven mitzvot:
Two positive commandments and five negative commandments.
They are:
1. Not to steal money
2. The laws governing [punishment of] a thief
3. To have proper scales and weights
4. Not to deal unjustly with weights and measures
5. For a person not to possess incorrect weights and measures, even
if he does not use them for purchase or sale
6. Not to alter a [colleague's] property marker
7. Not to kidnap.
Hilchot Mechirah
The Laws Governing Sales
They contain four mitzvot:
One positive commandment and three negative commandments.
They are:
1. The laws of sales and purchases
2. Not to cheat a colleague in a business transaction
3. Not to wrong a person with words
4. Not to wrong a convert financially.
5. Not to wrong him with words.
Hilchot Sh'chenim
The Laws Governing [Relations] with Neighbors
The intent of these laws is to know how land is divided between
partners, the measures each must take to prevent damage to the
other and their neighbors, and the laws governing a person's right to
purchase property sold by his neighbor
Hilchot Avadim
The Laws of Slaves
They contain 13 mitzvot:
Five positive commandments and eight negative commandments.
They are:
1. The laws governing the purchase of a Hebrew servant
2. That he not be sold in the way a slave is sold
3. That he may not be made to perform rigorous work
4. Not to allow a resident alien to make him perform rigorous work
5. Not to make him perform servile tasks
6. To give him a separation gift when he is released
7. That he should not be released empty-handed
8. To redeem a Hebrew maidservant
9. To designate her as a bride
10. Not to sell her
11. To work with a Canaanite slave forever unless his master destroys
one of his primary limbs
12. Not to return a slave who fled from the Diaspora to Eretz Yisrael
13. Not to oppress this slave who has fled to us.
Thus, this book contains a total of 18 mitzvot: six positive
commandments and 12 negative commandments.
Sefer Mishpatim
The Book of Judgments
It consists of five halachot. They are, in order:
Hilchot Sechirut - The Laws of Employer-Employee Relations
Hilcho She'lah UPikadon - The Laws of Borrowed and Entrusted
Objects
Hilchot Malveh V'Loveh - The Laws of Lenders and Borrowers
Hilchot To'en V'Nit'an - The Laws Governing [Disputes between]
Plaintiffs and Defendants
Hilchot Nachalot - The Laws Governing Inheritances.
Hilchot Sechirut
The Laws of Employer-Employee Relations
They contain seven mitzvot:
three positive commandments and four negative commandments.
They are:
1. The laws governing a hired worker and a paid watchman
2. To pay a worker his wage when due
3. Not to delay payment of a worker's wage after it falls due
4. That a worker be allowed to eat from the produce with which he is
working
5. That a worker not eat from this during the time he should be
working
6. That a worker should not take more than what he eats
7. Not to muzzle an ox or any other animal while it is treading [grain].
Hilchot Nachalot
The Laws Governing Inheritances
[They contain] one positive commandment, the laws governing the
order of inheritance.
Thus, this book contains a total of 23 mitzvot: 11 positive
commandments and 12 negative commandments.
Sefer Shoftim
The Book of Judges
It consists of five halachot. They are, in order:
Hilchot Sanhedrin V'HaOnshin HaMesurim Lahem - The Laws of
the Courts and the Punishments Over which They Have Jurisdiction
Hilchot Edut - The Laws of Witnesses
Hilchot Mamrim - The Laws of the Rebellious Ones
Hilchot Eivel - The Laws of Mourning
Hilchot Melachim UMilchamotehem - The Laws of Kings and Their
Wars.
Hilchot Edut
The Laws of Witnesses
They contain eight mitzvot:
Three positive commandments and five negative commandments.
They are:
1. For a person who knows [relevant] testimony to testify in court
2. To question and cross-examine witnesses
3. For a witness not to render a decision in a capital case in which he
has testified
4. Not to render a decision based on the testimony of a single witness
5. For a sinner not to act as a witness
6. For a relative not to act as a witness
7. Not to give false testimony
8. To punish a false witness with [the punishment] he plotted [to have
the defendant receive]
Hilchot Mamrim
The Laws of the Rebellious Ones
They contain nine mitzvot:
Three positive commandments and six negative commandments.
They are:
1. To follow the instructions given by the High Court
2. Not to deviate from their words
3. Not to add to the Torah, neither to the mitzvot of the Written Law nor
to their explanation which was transmitted by the oral tradition
4. Not to detract from the mitzvot
5. Not to curse one's father or mother
6. Not to strike one's father or mother
7. To honor one's father and mother
8. To fear one's father and mother
9. For a son not to rebel against his father's and mother's commands.
Hilchot Eivel
The Laws of Mourning
They contain four mitzvot:
One positive commandment and three negative commandments.
They are:
1. To mourn for our relatives. Even a priest must become impure and
mourn for his relatives. A person may not mourn for those executed by
the court. Therefore, I have included these laws in this book because
they are connected with the burial of a person on the day of his death,
which is a positive commandment.
2. For a High Priest not to become impure because of his relatives
3. For him not to enter a place where a corpse is lying
4. For a common priest not to contract impurity from contact with a
human corpse, with the exception of his relatives