Crossword clues for mitzvah
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Jewish rabbinical commandment, 1640s, from Hebrew mitzwah "commandment, precept," from base of tziwwah "he commanded," related to Arabic wasa "he bound, united."
Wiktionary
n. Any of the 613 commandments of Jewish law
WordNet
Wikipedia
In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; meaning "commandment", , , Biblical: ; plural , Biblical: ; from "command") refers to precepts and commandments commanded by God.
It is used in rabbinical Judaism to refer to the 613 commandments given in the Torah at biblical Mount Sinai and the seven rabbinic commandments instituted later for a total of 620. The 613 commandments are divided into two categories: 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments. According to the Talmud, all moral laws are, or are derived from, divine commandments.
The opinions of the Talmudic rabbis are divided between those who seek the purpose of the mitzvot and those who do not question them. The latter argue that if the reason for each mitzvah could be determined, people might try to achieve what they see as the purpose of the mitzvah, without actually performing the mitzvah itself (lishmah), which would become self-defeating. The former believe that people were to understand the reason and the purpose for each mitzvah, it would actually help them to observe and perform the mitzvah (some mitzvot are given reasons in the Torah).
In its secondary meaning, Hebrew mitzvah, as with English "commandment", refers to a moral deed performed as a religious duty. As such, the term mitzvah has also come to express an act of human kindness. The tertiary meaning of mitzvah also refers to the fulfillment of a mitzvah.
Usage examples of "mitzvah".
It would be no great exaggeration to call diabetes a spiritual experience, in much the same vein as a bar mitzvah, a sacrament, or the moment of enlightenment.
Aleph Beth Ghimel Daleth Hagadah Tephilim Kosher Yom Kippur Hanukah Roschaschana Beni Brith Bar Mitzvah Mazzoth Askenazim Meshuggah Talith.
He comforts himself with the fact that his is not the life of the itinerant rabbi, reduced to performing the brisses, weddings, and bar mitzvahs of strangers.
Adam first arrived on Abaddon, he found small mitzvahs he could perform.
He comforts himself with the fact that his is not the life of the itinerant rabbi, reduced to performing the brisses, weddings, and bar mitzvahs of strangers.
And I had a practically inexhaustible supply of Reality Pills for Halloween, saturnalia, and bar mitzvahs.
One example will suffice for all: the Charonese equivalent of a bar mitzvah involves self-disembowelment, after which the honoree amputates both legs and an arm, and then chews off.
Though he didnt know it then, the airplane, the bar mitzvah, the church, and his covert research were all preparation for meeting Chali, a meeting that had it occurred any sooner, would have been meaningless.
The reason behind bedecking the infant with jewelry, Lisa's father had explained to her a long time ago, was to show love for the mitzvah, the biblical commandment.
In the synagogue at Danny's bar mitzvah he had half resolved to put an end to it.
Anna, maybe, Anna might talk to him as she had on the night of his Bar Mitzvah, which seemed a hundred years ago.
And do you remember him at my bar mitzvah, what a field day he had with Alexander Portnoy?
It was time for his bar mitzvah, the coming-of-age for a Jewish boy.
When I was growing up it's what everyone gave you as a giftfor your bar mitzvah.
Six months away from bar mitzvah, a big party to be arranged, Laura’.