The 613 Mitzvot (Commandments) according to Sefer HaMitzvot of RaMBaM and Sefer HaMitzvot HaKatzar of Chafetz Chayim.
The Talmud (Tractate Makkot 23b) tells us that there are 613 mitzvot, 248 positive (commandments to do - mitzvot aseh) and 365 negative (commandments not to do - mitzvot lo ta'aseh). The 613 mitzvot symbolize man's 248 limbs and 365 tendons. 611 Mitzvot were given by G-d through Moshe. The first 2 Mitzvot were given directly by G-d at Har Sinai. The Taryag Mitzvot (613 Commandments) are Scriptural and Divine in origin.
For the religious Jew the Torah is the summit of perfection, both in its totality and in its individual parts. If one encounters difficulties, it is precisely for that reason that we pray three times daily in the Amidah, "O my G-d, open my heart to Your Torah, and let my soul pursue Your Mitzvot." A mitzvah cannot be fulfilled if in the process one transgresses another mitzvah. Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed following the destruction of the Second Temple and 26 mitzvot apply only within the Land of Yisrael.
Maimonides (RaMBaM), in his Sefer HaMitzvot, can be said to have arranged the 613 Mitzvot in groups; the Positive Mitzvot into ten groups and the Negative Mitzvot into ten groups.
This page is being constructed and will be finished soon, B"Ezrat HaShem.
Arrangement of the 613 Mitzvot
Positive Mitzvot - Mitzvot Aseh
Mitzvah 1-19...........Belief in G-d and our duties towards Him.
Mitzvah 20-95.........The Sanctuary, Priesthood and Sacrifices.
Mitzvah 96-113.......The Sources of Uncleanness and the modes of purification.
Mitzvah 114-152.....Gifts to the Temple, the poor, the Kohanim and Leviim; the Sabbatical Year and the Jubilee; the preparation of food.
Mitzvah 153-171.....The Holy Days and the observances connected with them.
Mitzvah 172-193.....The proper functioning of the Jewish State.
Mitzvah 194-209.....Our duties towards our fellow men.
Mitzvah 210-223.....The duties attaching to family life.
Mitzvah 224-231.....The enforcement of the criminal law.
Mitzvah 232-248.....The laws relating to property, real and personal.
248 Positive:
1. To believe in the existence of G-d | 2. To acknowledge the Oneness--complete Echad of G-d | 3. To love G-d | 4. To fear G-d | 5. To worship G-d | 6. To cleave to G-d | 7. Taking oaths in the Name of G-d | 8. Walking in G-d's ways | 9. Santifying G-d's Name | 10. Recite the Shema' | 11. Studying and Teaching Torah | 12. Binding Tefillin (on head) | 13. Binding Tefillin (on hand) | 14. Wearing Tzitzit | 15. Affixing a Mezuzah | 16. Hachel - assembling each 7th year to hear Torah read | 17. A king must write a copy of the Torah | 18. Every Jewish man must accuire a scroll of the Torah | 19. Birkat HaMazon - thanksgiving after meals
20. Build a Mikdash (Temple) for G-d | 21. Revering the Temple | 22. Guarding the Mikdash | 23. Services of the Levi'im in the Mikdash | 24. Abulations of the Kohanim | 25. Kindling the Menorah by the Kohanim | 26. The Kohanim blessing Yisrael | 27. Lechem HaPanim (the Bread of Faces - Showbread) | 28. Burning the incense | 29. The Perpetual Fire on the Mizbeach (Altar) | 30. Removing ashes from the Mizbeach | 31. Removing the unclean | 32. Honoring the Kohanim | 33. The priestly garments | 34. Kohanim bearing the Aron (Ark) | 35. The oil of anointment | 36. Kohanim ministering in coarses | 37. Kohanim being defiled for deceased relatives | 38. The Kohen Gadol may only marry a virgin | 39. The daily Olah (fire) offerings) | 40. The Kohen Gadol's daily Mincha offering | 41. The Shabbat additional offering (Musaf) | 42. Rosh Chodesh Musaf offering | 43. The Pesach Musaf offering | 44. The Mincha offering of the Omer | 45. The Shavuot Musaf offering | 46. Bringing two loaves on Shavuot | 47. Rosh HaShanah Musaf offering | 48. Yom Kippur Musaf offering | 49. The Yom Kippur service | 50. The Sukkot Musaf offering | 51. Shemini Atzeret Musaf offering | 52. The three annual pilgrimages | 53. Appearing before G-d during the Festivals | 54. Rejoicing on the Festivals | 55. Slaughtering the Pesach offering | 56. Eating the Pesach offering | 57. Slaughtering the Pesach Sheni (second) offering | 58. Eating the Pesach Sheni offering | 59. Blowing the trumpets in the Sanctuary | 60. Minimum age of cattle to be offered | 61. Offering only unblemished sacrifices | 62. Bring salt with every offering | 63. The Olah offering | 64. The Chata'at (sin) offering | 65. The asham (guilt) offering | 66. The Shelamim (peace) offering | 67. The Mincha offering | 68. The offerings of a court that has erred | 69. The fixed Chata'at offering | 70. Suspensive Asham offering | 71. The unconditional Asham offering | 72. The offering of higher and lower value | 73. Making confessions | 74.
Negative Mitzvot - Mitzvot Lo Ta'aseh
Mitzvah 1-59............Idolatry and related subjects.
Mitzvah 60-88..........Our duties to G-d, the Sanctuary, and the services therein.
Mitzvah 89-171........Sacrifices, Priestly gifts, Kohanim, Leviim, and related subjects.
Mitzvah 172-209......Prohibitions affecting food.
Mitzvah 210-228......Cultivation of the land.
Mitzvah 229-270......Our duties towards our fellow men, towards the poor and towards employees.
Mitzvah 271-319......The administration of justice, the authority of the Courts, and similar matters.
Mitzvah 320-329......The Shabbat and Festivals.
Mitzvah 330-361......The forbidden degrees of marriage and related subjects.
Mitzvah 362-365......The head of the Jewish State and its officers.
365 Negative
Home | Orach Chayim Index | 613 Mitzvot | Aggadah & Mashalim | All About Challah | Beliefs-Customs-Rituals | Book Shelf | Brachot LeShabbat | Brachot VeTefillot | Hebrew Bible Names | Heberw English Torah | Hebrew Phrases | Holyday Summaries | Jewish Graphics | Jewish Links | Jewish Music | Men of Torah | Women of Torah | Parashat HaShavua | Pirke Avot | Sefer Tehillim | Shevatim | The Thirteen Principles | Traditional Prayers |