613 Mitzvot

Maimonides, one of the first codifiers of Jewish law, wrote the fourteen volume Mishneh Torah that covers all of Jewish law, belief and practice. He divides the 613 mitzvot into 14 books, with 83 sections. the 613 mitzvot are comprised of 248 positive commands and 365 negative ones. The positive mitzvot equal the number of parts of the body; the negative mitzvot correspond to the number of days in the solar year. Book of Knowledge: The laws concerning religious belief, character, Torah study, idolatry, and repentance (75 mitzvot) Section I: Torah Foundations 1. Know there is G-d (Exodus 20:2, Deuteronomy 5:6) 2. Don't believe in any other (Exodus 20:3) 3. Know that He is One (Deuteronomy 6:4) 4. Love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5) 5. Fear Him (Deuteronomy 6:13, Deuteronomy 10:20) 6. Sanctify His Name (Leviticus 22:32 7. Don't profane His Name (Exodus 22:27, Leviticus 24:16) 8. Don't destroy things bearing His Name (Deuteronomy 12:4) 9. Listen to a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15) 10. Don't test Him too much (Deuteronomy 6:16)

Shabbat - 4/28/07 (10 Iyar 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double portion -- Acharei-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27). Topics in Acharei: The death of Aaron’s sons and the Yom Kippur service, The lots, The incense service, The he-goat to Azazel, Removal of the shovel and ladle, Conclusion of the service, The eternal commandment of Yom Kippur, Service outside the Tabernacle, Prohibition against eating blood, Covering blood, Forbidden practices and traditions, Forbidden relationships, Molech, Sodomy and bestiality, The holiness of the land Topics in Kedoshim: Holiness, Piggul/Rejected offerings, Gifts to the poor, Honest dealings with others, Love your fellow, Kil’ayim/Forbidden mixtures, Shifchah charufah/Designated maidservant, Fruit trees, Weights and measures, Punishments, Molech, Penalties for forbidden relationships, The land and immortality, Holiness and kashrus For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

5767 (2006-2007) Holidays

For specific information, please go here. Rosh Hoshannah - September 23-24, 2006 Tzom Gedaliah - September 25, 2006 Yom Kippur - October 2, 2006 Sukkot - October 7-13, 2006 Hoshanah Rabbah - October 13, 2006 Shemini Atzeret - October 14, 2006 Simchat Torah - October 15, 2006 Chanukah - December 16-23, 2006 Asarah B'Tevet - December 31, 2006 Tu B'Shevat - February 3, 2007 Taanit Esther - March 1, 2007 Purim - March 4, 2007 Pesach - April 3-10, 2007 Yom HaShoah - April 15, 2007 Yom HaZikaron - April 23, 2007 Yom HaAtzmaut - April 24, 2007 Lag B'Omer - May 6, 2007 Yom Yerushalayim - May 16, 2007 Shavuot - May 23-24, 2007 Shiva Asar B'Tammuz - July 3, 2007 Tish B'Av - July 24, 2007 Tu B'Av - July 30, 2007

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Welcome to the BecomingJewish.Org Blog - the official blog for BecomingJewish.Org. Becoming Jewish is an online information source for those considering conversion to Judaism, in the process of converting, Righteous Gentiles (B'nei Noach), and anyone interested in learning about Judaism. Topics included on the site are: (site index) 5767 Calendar Anti-Semitism Arab-Israel Conflict Biblical Genealogy Comparative Religions Conversion Counter-Missionary Downloads Glossary Hebrew and Yiddish Holocaust How-To Israel Jewish Books Jewish Calendar Jewish FAQ Jewish History Jewish Holidays Jewish Law Jewish Life Cycles Jewish Links Jewish Messiah Jewish Mysticism Jewish Prayer Jewish Texts Jewish Theology Judaism 101 Keeping Kosher Noachide People of the Tanach Rabbis Religious Objects Shabbat Talmud Tzedakah Women Youth