Part 21: What Commandments Are Considered the Mos

By Gary Konecky

MISHNAH 2. SIMEON THE RIGHTEOUS WAS ONE OF THE LAST OF THE MEN OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE. HE USED TO SAY: THE WORLD IS BASED UPON THREE THINGS: THE TORAH, DIVINE SERVICE, AND THE PRACTICE OF KINDLINESS.

- Mishna - Mas. Avoth Chapter 1

Having laboriously worked our way through the Hebrew bible and related holy books, it is time to ask: Is homosexuality really what G-d focuses on? Is what happens in someone’s bedroom G-d’s biggest concern?

The answer is no it is not. While G-d did not give us a list of what commandments are the most important, over many generations learned rabbis and Jewish sages have put together a list of what they consider to be the most significant commandments. As we conclude our exploration of the Hebrew Bible, now seems a good time to discuss what commandments are the most important. Some of the commandments we will be discussing are applicable only to those of the Jewish faith.

The Jewish tradition holds that G-d gave the Jewish people 613 commandments at Mount Sinai. Some of the commandments that we are about to discuss may come as a surprise to some of you.

Before we get started, a note of caution seems very appropriate, for we are taught:

MISHNAH 1…BE THOU CAREFUL WITH A LIGHT PRECEPT AS WITH A GRAVE ONE, FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT THE GRANT OF REWARD [FOR THE FULFILMENT] OF PRECEPTS…

- Mishna - Mas. Avoth Chapter 2

Having sounded a note of caution, the following is an exceedingly brief discussion of the most important commandments.

Charity

R. Assi states in the Talmud (Baba Bathra 9a): “Charity is equivalent to all the other religious precepts combined…”

Lashon Hora (Evil Tongue)

Jewish religious law bans speaking malicious falsehood. It also bans gossip, even if the gossip is true. There are 31 prohibitions and positive commandments that are grouped together as the laws concerning Lashon Hora.

I urge you to study either the works of the Chofetz Chaim or Rabbi Pliskin’s book Guard Your Tongue. The faster we learn to control our mouths, the faster we will see peace on earth and the coming of the messiah.

Tzitzit

Tzitzit are the ritual fringes on the corners of garments required to be worn by male Jews as commanded by G-d in Numbers. The fringes serve as a reminder of the 613 commandments G-d gave the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

Brit Milah

Brit Milah is the ritual circumcision of Jewish male children at eight days of age as a sign of their covenant with G-d.

Shabbat

Certain Jewish teachings hold that the Sabbath is holier than the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

The importance of the Sabbath is discussed in Exodus Rabbah 25:12, where R. Levi is quoted as saying: “If Israel kept the Sabbath properly even for one day, the son of David would come. Why? Because it is equivalent to all the commandments…” The phrase son of David is a reference to the messiah.

Settling the Land of Israel

The rabbis both ancient and modern (including the great Chief Rabbi of Israel, Abraham Isaac Kook ZT’L) stressed the importance of this commandment.

Not worshiping idols

Not worshiping idols is an important a prohibition. The Talmud (Megilah 13a) teaches us: “R. Johanan said: …Why then was he called ‘a Jew’? Because he repudiated idolatry. For anyone who repudiates idolatry is called ‘a Jew’…”

Talmud Torah (study of the Torah)

The Mishnah (Mas. Pe'ah Chapter 1) teaches us:

MISHNAH 1. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE THINGS FOR WHICH NO DEFINITE QUANTITY IS PRESCRIBED:(1) THE CORNERS [OF THE FIELD].(2) FIRST-FRUITS,(3) [THE OFFERINGS BROUGHT] ON APPEARING [BEFORE THE LORD AT THE THREE PILGRIM FESTIVALS].(4) THE PRACTICE OF LOVINGKINDNESS,(5) AND THE STUDY OF THE TORAH.(6) THE FOLLOWING ARE THE THINGS FOR WHICH A MAN ENJOYS THE FRUITS IN THIS WORLD WHILE THE PRINCIPAL REMAINS FOR HIM IN THE WORLD TO COME: THE HONOURING OF FATHER AND MOTHER,(7) THE PRACTICE OF CHARITY, AND THE MAKING OF PEACE BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS FRIEND; BUT THE STUDY OF THE TORAH IS EQUAL TO THEM ALL.(8)

(1) In the Torah; but v. the next Mishnah where Rabbinic tradition fixes the minimum at one-sixtieth.

(2) Lev. XIX, and XXIII, 22 enjoin the owner to leave unreaped the former for the poor and the stranger to gather.

(3) Bikkurim; v. Ex. XXIII, 19; Deut. XXVI, 1-11. These were presented to the priests in the Temple.

(4) Re'ayon; v. Ex. XXIII, 17; Deut. XVI, 16. Biblically, ‘every man according to the gift of his hand’ (Deut. XVI, 17), but Rabbinic halachah prescribes a ma'ah (a silver coin) as the minimum value of the burnt-offering and two silver coins that of the festival offering, v. Hag. 1a. According to Bertinoro, Re'ayon denoted ‘appearing’ in the Temple, i.e., there is no limit as to the number of times the Israelite may enter the Temple during the three festivals.

(5) Gemilluth hasadim, a term implying more than mere charity and denoting personal service to all men of all classes.

(6) Josh. 1, 8.

(7) Fifth Commandment; Ex. XX, 12, Deut. V, 16.

(8) The fuller version given in our Prayer Books (v. P.B. p. 5) is based on a Baraitha quoted in Shab. 127a.

This mishnah (while stressing the importance of Torah study) also stresses charity (leaving the corner of a field unharvested so that the poor may gather food from the unharvested portion of a farmers field). This mishnah additionally stresses acts of loving kindness, honoring one’s parents, and bringing peace between man and his fellow. The reason Torah study is equivalent to them all is that if we did not study the Torah we would not know to do these things.

Amplifying the above mishnah, we have the following discussion from the Talmud (Shabbath 127a-127b):

R. Judah b. Shila said in R. Assi's name in R. Johanan's name: There are six things, the fruit of which man eats in this world, while the principal remains for him for the world to come, viz.: Hospitality to wayfarers, visiting the sick, meditation in prayer, early attendance at the Beth Hamidrash, rearing one's sons to the study of the Torah, and judging one's neighbour in the scale of merit.(16) But that is not so? For we learnt: These are the things which man performs and enjoys their fruits in this world, while the principal remains for him for the world to come, viz.: honouring one's parents, the practice of loving deeds,(17) and making peace between man and his fellow, while the study of the Torah surpasses them all:(18) [this implies], these only, but none others?

- These too are included in the practice of loving deeds. Another version: these are included in those.(1)

(16) I.e., seeking a favourable interpretation of his actions, even when they look suspicious.

(17) Not merely alms-giving.

(18) Not because knowledge in itself is a great virtue, but because it is the foundation and condition of real piety; cf. Ab. II, 6; also, ‘Learning is great, because it leads to (good) deeds’.

(1) Hospitality and visiting the sick belong to the practice of loving deeds; early attendance at the Beth Hamidrash and rearing one's children to the study of the Torah are included in the study of the Torah; while judging one's neighbour favourably enables peace to be made between a man and his fellow and between a husband and wife, as each can be persuaded to take a charitable view of the other's actions. As for meditation in prayer, Rashi includes it in the practice of loving deeds - to ones own soul - as it is written, the man of love doeth good to his own soul (Prov. XI, 17). Maharsha includes it in peacemaking between God and man.

Beth Hamidrash – House of Study, another name for a synagogue.

We see the importance of studying the Torah is stressed. The reason the importance of studying Torah is stressed is so that we will learn that we are obligated, indeed that we are commanded to practice acts of loving-kindness (including, but not limited to, the giving of charity), as well as judging one’s fellow favorably and making peace between man and his fellow.

It is also noteworthy that “Hospitality to wayfarers” is included in this discussion. I remind you that it was lack of hospitality to wayfarers that was the reason for the destruction of Sodom (see part 11).

Making interest –free loans

Exodus Rabbah 31:13 contains a discussion of the proper treatment of the poor. Additionally, it teaches us: “But he who lends without interest is regarded by God as if he had fulfilled all the commandments…”

Redeeming captives

The Shulchan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law) rules that there is no greater commandment than “redeeming captives.”

In conclusion, as we review this list of commandments, we notice that some commandments have to do with our relationship to G-d, while many commandments have to do with our relationship with our fellows. We are commanded to perform acts of loving kindness, to give charity, to make peace, to not say hurtful things (including gossip that is true), and to redeem captives. Nowhere in this list is there a single mention of homosexuality; and that is significant for what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own bedroom is not nearly as important as the aforementioned commandments, for we are taught:

…what the L-rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your G-d.

– Micah 6:8

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Part 21: What Commandments Are Important