Commandments and Jewish Tradition Quiz

Answer: mitzvah

The word "mitzvah" means "commandment", thus a "bat mitzvah" is a "daughter of a commandment", and a "bar mitzvah" is a "son of a commandment". The word "mitzvah" is often used to mean a "good deed". For instance, one could suggest to one's child, "Why don't you do a mitzvah and give your grandmother a call?".

In Orthodox Jewish circles, it is common to thank a person for his assistance by saying "Tizkeh le mitzvot", which means "you should merit doing good deeds". The wrong answers: "hakalah" means "to ease, or lighten", in other words, to be less stringent about a ritual, while "chumrah" means just the opposite. "Gader" means "fence".

This refers to the concept of "building a fence around the Torah" - in other words, not cutting a ritual so close that one might inadvertently trespass on a commandment.

Answer: 613

Most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments which Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai, but the Torah actually contains 613 commandments. According to Jewish tradition, a pomegranate contains 613 seeds - therefore we pray on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), that our good deeds may be "as numerous as the seeds of the pomegranate".

Answer: False

Many of the commandments found in the Torah are the basis for modern legal systems. These include universal prohibitions against murder, theft, etc. Other commandments found in the Torah are observed almost exclusively by Jews. These would include the commandments of kashruth and the laws of the Sabbath (although there are Gentiles who observe the Sabbath on Saturday as well).

But even the most stringently observant Jew cannot observe all the commandments, since many require the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem.

These commandments include those regarding the service in the Temple, animal sacrifice, etc.

Answer: Agriculture

In Jewish belief, the Holy Land is precisely that, holy land, and it sanctified in a number of ways. Every seven years a sabbatical year, called "shmitta" in Hebrew, is observed, and Jews in Israel are commanded not to work the land. This practice is still observed, in varying degrees, in modern Israel. During Biblical times, a portion of all produce was set aside for the Cohanim who served in the Temple.

Although the Temple no longer exists, observant Jews in Israel still tithe all local fruits and vegetables. And here's a fun fact for you: in Jerusalem, the tithed fruits and vegetables are sent to the animals in the Jerusalem zoo.

As a result, the animals are exceptionally healthy. The elephants, for example, are more fertile than elephants in any other zoo in the world!

Answer: Commandments that must be performed at a specific time

Biblical commandments can be divided into positive and negative commandments. Negative commandments include all the "shalt nots", such as the prohibition against murder. These are incumbent on both women and men. Certain positive commandments, such as the commandment to remember the Sabbath day, or the commandment to honor one's parents, have no specific time attached to it, and is also binding on women as well as men.

However, women are exempt from positive commandments that are performed at certain specific times, like the three daily prayers or wearing tfillin (phylacteries).

Some people explain that since women are entrusted with caring for infants and children, they must available to them at all hours of the day, and cannot commit themselves to performing a given ritual at a given hour. Non-Orthodox streams of Judaism, such as Conservative or Reform, are egalitarian, and require the same practice from women as they do from men.

Answer: The commandment to wear "fringed garments"

Following the Flood, the nations of the world were commanded to maintain certain basic standards of behavior. These commandments were later codified in the Talmud, and are referred to as the "Noahide" commandments. The following things are forbidden by the "Noahide" commandments: murder, idolatry, blasphemy, incest and adultery, robbery, and eating the flesh from a live animal.

In addition, the nations are bidden to establish courts of law to oversee these commandments. The Noahide commandments outline basic moral behavior, and do not include rituals like the wearing of a fringed garment, or "tallit".

Answer: We will do them, and we will hear them

According to Exodus 19:8, when the Children of Israel were presented with the Torah at Mt. Sinai, they responded by saying "We will do it and we will hear it". This response describes a central concept in Judaism. The "mitzvot" are to be observed because the Creator has commanded them.

While it is certainly interesting and challenging to find the reason behind certain commandments, an observant Jew does not reject those commandments which do not have a rational basis. For example, one should not say, "I don't eat pork because it isn't healthy", rather, one should say "I would like to eat that pork and its looks quite tasty, however, the Torah forbids me to eat it".

Answer: "Be fruitful and multiply"

Judaism, unlike many world faiths, has no tradition of celibacy. The family holds a vital place in Jewish life, and Jews are expected to marry and produce children. In fact, matchmaking is considered an important "mitzvah".

Answer: Lying

Jewish law requires that almost all of the commandments be put aside in order to preserve human life. The Sabbath can be violated in order to transport a sick person to the hospital. A person who is attacked by another person can defend himself, even if that means killing the attacker.

However, one cannot murder an innocent person, or commit incest or idolatry, even if one's life is in danger. Throughout history, Jews who have been faced with forced conversion, have preferred to die as martyrs.

Answer: To always be happy

Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav was the great-grandson of the founder of Hassidism, the Baal Shem Tov. He was born in 1772 and died in 1810. Rabbi Nachman taught that "it is a great deed to always be happy". This famous saying has been put to music and can be heard at Jewish celebrations of all kinds, all over the world.