A Holy Sound

Shabbat - 09/01/07 (18 Elul 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8). Topics in Ki Tavo: First fruits, Declaration, Confession of the tithes, G-d and Israel are inseparable, The new commitment, Blessings and curses, The blessing for fulfilling the commandments, The admonition for disobedience, Moses’ final charge to the people 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

Work on Shabbat

According to Mishnah Shabbat, 7:2, there are 39 kinds of work that are forbidden on Shabbat. Sowing Plowing Reaping Binding Sheaves Threshing Willowing Selecting Grinding Sifting Kneading Baking Shearing Wool Washing Wool Beating Wool Dyeing Wool Spinning Weaving Making Two Loops Weaving Two Threads Separating Two Threads Tying Untying Sewing Two Stitches Tearing Trapping Slaughtering Flaying Salting Meat Curring Hide Scraping Hide Cutting Hide Up Writing Two Letters Erasing Two Letters Building Tearing a Building Down Extinguishing a Fire Kindling a Fire Hitting with a Hammer Taking an Object from the Private Domain to the Public, or Transporting an Object in a Public Domain

Shabbat - 08/25/07 (11 Elul 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double portion -- Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19). Topics in Ki Teitzei: The woman of beautiful form, The firstborn’s inviolable right, The wayward and rebellious son, Hanging and burial, Concern for the property of another, Male and female garb, Sending the mother bird from the nest, Protective fence, Tzitzis, Defamation of a married woman, If the accusation was true, Adultery, Betrothed maiden, Forbidden and restricted marriages, Sanctity of the camp, An escaped slave, Sexual purity, Interest, Vows to G-d, A worker’s right to eat, Divorce and remarriage, Millstone, Kidnapping, Tzaraas and slander, Dignity of a debtor, Timely payment of workers, Individual responsibility, Consideration for the orphan and widow, Gifts to the poor from the harvest, Lashes, Levirate marriage and releasing the obligation, Penalty for embarrassing another, Honest weights and measures, Remembering Amalek 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

613 Mitzvot - Part XVII

Parts I : II : III : IV : V : VI : VII : VIII : IX : X : XI : XII : XIII : XIV : XV : XVI The Book of Judges: The judicial system, rabbinic and parental authority, mourning, kings, and wars (74 mitzvot) Section I: Laws Concerning the Sanhedrin and the penalties within Their Jurisdiction 540. Appoint judges (Deuteronomy 16:18) 541. Don't appoint a judge who does not know judicial procedure (Deuteronomy 1:17) 542. Rule according to the majority (when judges differ) (Exodus 23:2) 543. Don't execute the accused if there is only a bare majority for conviction (a majority of two necessary) (Exodus 23:2) 544. Don't (in capital cases) present argument for conviction if you have presented a plea for acquittal (Deuteronomy 23:2) 545. Put to death by stoning (Deuteronomy 22:24) 546. Put to death be burning (Leviticus 20:14) 547. Put to death by decapitation with sword (Exodus 21:20) 548. Put to death by strangling (Leviticus 20:10) 549. Hang (those stoned for blasphemy or idolatry) (Deuteronomy 21:22) 550. Bury the body on day of execution (Deuteronomy 21:23) 551. Don't let the body remain overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23) 552. Don't allow a sorcerer to live (Exodus 22:17) 553. Punish the wicked with stripes (for certain sins) (Exodus 25:2) 554. Don't exceed the number of (39) stripes in the Torah (Deuteronomy 25:3) 555. Don't put the innocent to death on presumptuous testimony (Exodus 23:7) 556. Don't punish one who committed sin under duress (Deuteronomy 22:26) 557. Don't show pity for one who slays another (Deuteronomy 19:13) 558. Don't show compassion at a trial to a person who is poor (Leviticus 19:15) 559. Don't show respect at a trial to a great man (Leviticus 19:15) 560. Don't decide the cause of a habitual transgressor unjustly (Exodus 23:6) 561. Don't pervert judgment (Leviticus 19:15) 562. Don't pervert the judgment of a stranger or an orphan (Deuteronomy 24:17) 563. Judge righteously (Leviticus 19:15) 564. Don't be afraid at a trial of a man who is violent (Deuteronomy 1:17) 565. Don't take a bribe (Exodus 23:8) 566. Don't receive a one-sided report (Exodus 23:1) 567. Don't curse judges (Exodus 22:27) 568. Don't curse prince (of state or Torah) (Exodus 22:27) 569. Don't curse any Jew who leads a worthy life (Leviticus 19:14) Section II: Laws of Testimony 570. Testify in court if you are in possession of evidence (Leviticus 5:1) 571. Carefully interrogate the witnesses (Deuteronomy 13:15) 572. Don't (in a capital case) act as a judge if you have given evidence (Deuteronomy 19:17) 573. Don't make any ruling based on the testimony of only one witness (Deuteronomy 19:15) 574. Don't accept a transgressor's testimony (Exodus 23:1) 575. Don't accept a relative's testimony (Deuteronomy 24:16) 576. Don't testify falsely (Exodus 20:13) 577. Do unto an exposed false witness as he has plotted to do to accused (Deuteronomy 19:19) Section III: Laws Concerning the Rebellious 578. Act in accordance with the law of the Torah as the High Court declares it (Deuteronomy 17:11) 579. Don't depart from rulings of this Court (Deuteronomy 17:11) 580. Don't add to the Torah (Written Law or Oral interpretation) (Deuteronomy 13:1) 581. Don't detract from the precepts (Deuteronomy 13:1) 582. Don't curse your father or mother (Exodus 21:17) 583. Don't strike you father or mother (Exodus 21:15) 584. Honor your father and mother (Exodus 21:12) 585. Revere your father and mother (Leviticus 19:3) 586. Don't rebel against the order of your father or mother (Deuteronomy 21:18) Section IV: Laws or Mourning 587. Mourn relatives (even Priest defiles himself for relatives) (Leviticus 10:19) 588. Don't (High Priest) defile yourself through contact with deceased, even relatives (Leviticus 21:11) 589. Don't (any Priest) be under same roof as deceased forbidden for contact (Leviticus 21:11) 590. Don't (Ordinary Priest) defile yourself for anyone except relatives (Leviticus 21:1) Section V: Laws of Sovereigns and their Wars 591. Appoint a King (Deuteronomy 17:15) 592. Don't appoint proselyte as king (Deuteronomy 17:15) 593. Don't (King) have too many wives (Deuteronomy 17:17) 594. Don't have too many horses (Deuteronomy 17:16) 595. Don't have too much gold and silver (Deuteronomy 17:17) 596. Destroy seven Canaanite nations (Deuteronomy 20:17) 597. Don't let any one to them live (Deuteronomy 20:16) 598. Blot out seed of Amalek (Deuteronomy 20:19) 599. Remember what Amalek did to us (Deuteronomy 25:17) 600. Don't forget his evil deeds (Deuteronomy 25:19) 601. Don't reside permanently in Egypt (Deuteronomy 17:16) 602. Offer terms of peace to inhabitants of besieged city (Deuteronomy 20:10) 603. Don't offer peace to Ammon and Moab (Deuteronomy 23:7) 604. Don't destroy fruit trees even during siege (Deuteronomy 20:19) 605. Prepare place outside camp where soldiers can relieve themselves (Deuteronomy 23:13) 606. Prepare a shovel to dig with (Deuteronomy 23:14) 607. Anoint priest to speak to men in wartime (Deuteronomy 20:2) 608. If a man takes a wife, builds a building, plants a vineyard - he should be deferred from service one year (Deuteronomy 24:5) 609. Don't draft them for any purpose (Deuteronomy 24:5) 610. Don't panic and retreat in battle (Deuteronomy 20:3) 611. Act according to law of beautiful women taken captive in war (Deuteronomy 21:11) 612. Don't sell this captive into slavery (Deuteronomy 21:14) 613. Don't retain her in servitude after having relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:14)

Shabbat - 08/18/07 (4 Elul 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double portion -- Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9). Topics in Shoftim: Establishment of just courts, Blemished sacrifice, The death penalty for an idol worshiper, The rebellious elder, A king in Israel, Priestly gifts, Prophecy, G-d sends His prophets to Israel, Cities of refuge, Preserving boundaries, Conspiring witnesses, When Israel goes to war, The Kohen anointed for battle speaks to the people, Those unqualified to fight, Overtures for peace, Preservation of fruit trees, Unsolved murder: the axed heifer 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

613 Mitzvot - Part XVI

Parts I : II : III : IV : V : VI : VII : VIII : IX : X : XI : XII : XIII : XIV : XV The Book of Judgments: Labor relations, renting and borrowing, and inheritance (23 mitzvot) Section I: Laws of Hiring 517. Carry out law of the man who rents and the depository for hire (Exodus 22:9) 518. Pay the hired wage the same day (Deuteronomy 24:15) 519. Don't delay the wage after it is due (Leviticus 19:13) 520. That the hired man may eat of agricultural produce at which he works (Deuteronomy 23:25) 521. Don't eat from un-severed produce until work is completed (Deuteronomy 23:26) 522. Don't take with you anything you don't consume (Deuteronomy 23:25) 523. Don't muzzle an ox (or cattle) while it is doing agricultural work (Deuteronomy 25:4) Section II: Laws Concerning Borrowing an Article and Deposit 524. Carry out the law appertaining to a borrower (Exodus 22:13) 525. Carry out the law concerning a gratuitous depository (Exodus 22:6) Section III: Laws Concerning Creditor and Debtor 526. Lend to the poor and needy (Exodus 22:24) 527. Don't press him for payment he doesn't have (Exodus 22:24) 528. Press the idolater (Deuteronomy 15:3) 529. Don't (the creditor) take a pledge by force (Deuteronomy 24:10) 530. Return the pledge to its owner when he is in need of it (Deuteronomy 24:13) 531. Don't be tardy in returning it to him (Deuteronomy 24:12) 532. Don't exact a pledge from a widow (Deuteronomy 24:17) 533. Don't take utensils used in preparing food (Deuteronomy 24:6) 534. Don't (the lender) give a loan at usury (Leviticus 25:37) 535. Don't (the borrower) take a loan at usury (Deuteronomy 23:20) 536. Don't act as intermediary in a loan at usury (Exodus 22:24) 537. Borrow from, and lend to an idolater at usury (Deuteronomy 23:21) Section IV: Laws of Plaintiff and Defendant 538. Carry out laws of claims, admissions and denials (Exodus 22:8) Section V: Laws of Inheritance 539. Carry out law regarding order of inheritance (Numbers 27:8)

Shabbat - 08/11/07 (27 Av 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double portion -- Re'eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17). Topics in Re'eh: Blessing and curse, Sanctity of the Land, Private altars, Permission to eat redeemed offerings, Sacred foods consumed only in Jerusalem, Permission to eat unconsecrated meat, General principles of observance, The prohibition against copying the rites of the Canaanites, A false prophet, One who entices others to go astray, The wayward city, A treasured people, Permitted and forbidden food, The second tithe, Remission of loans, To be warmhearted and openhanded to our brethren, A Jewish bondsman, The three pilgrimage festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, Succot, To come to Jerusalem with offerings 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

613 Mitzvot - Part XV

Parts I : II : III : IV : V : VI : VII : VIII : IX : X : XI : XII : XIII : XIV The Book of Acquisition: Commercial transactions, neighbors, and bondage (18 mitzvot) Section I - Laws of Sale 499. Carry out law of purchase and sale (Leviticus 25:14) 500. Don't do wrong in buying and selling (Leviticus 25:14) 501. Don't do wrong with words - like reminding a repentant man of his sins (Leviticus 25:17) 502. Don't wrong a proselyte in regard to his possessions (Exodus 22:20) 503. Don't wrong him with words (Exodus 22:20) Section II: Laws of Acquisition of Derelict Property and Gifts Laws in regard to one who acquires derelict property and by what methods one acquires title to such property; and laws in regard to donor of gifts and recipient and kind of gift which reverts to original owner and which doesn't Section III: Laws of Neighbors Laws of partnership divisions and removal of potential nuisances to neighbors Section IV: Laws of Agents and Partners Laws of agency and partnership regarding their transactions, profits and losses Section V: Laws of Bondmen 504. Carry out the laws of the acquisition of a Hebrew bondman(Exodus 21:2) 505. Don't sell his as a slave is sold (Leviticus 25:42) 506. Don't force him to work rigorously (Leviticus 25:43) 507. Don't allow a non-Jew to work him with rigor (Leviticus 25:53) 508. Don't force him to do the menial work of a slave (Leviticus 25:59) 509. Bestow upon him a liberal gift when he goes free (Deuteronomy 15:14) 510. Don't send him away empty-handed (Deuteronomy 15:13) 511. Redeem a Hebrew bondwoman (Exodus 21:8) 512. Espouse her (the master or his son) (Exodus 21:8) 513. Don't sell her if you don't espouse her (Exodus 21:8) 514. Keep a Canaanite slave in perpetual bondage (except if master injured his limbs) (Leviticus 25:46) 515. Don't surrender a slave who fled from outside of Israel to Israel (Deuteronomy 23:16) 516. Don't wrong such a slave (Deuteronomy 23:16)

Shabbat - 08/04/07 (20 Av 5767)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is a double portion -- Eikev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25). Topics in Eikev: The reward, The assurance, The lesson of food, A warning against the lure of prosperity, Remembering the Exodus and the tribulations in the Wilderness, Receiving the Tablets, A stiff-necked people, Repeated rebelliousness, A temporary Ark and the second Tablets, Aaron’s death, Elevation of the Levites, G-d’s reconciliation, Firsthand knowledge of G-d’s miracles, The great virtues of the Land, The second portion of the Shema 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