A Kosem is somebody who beats the ground with his staff or belt while chanting gibberish until he goes into a trance; after which he starts to foretell the future. One who puts himself into a trance to foretell the future – or to make decisions – has transgressed this Mitzvah. By Rabbinic decree one [...]
It is forbidden to declare certain times as auspicious or inauspicious. Thus it’s forbidden to say “this time frame (hour, month, day, month) is a good time to do something” or “this time frame is not a good time to start some activity“. Whoever plans his activities based on auspicious or inauspicious times, has transgressed [...]
Divination: The practice of discerning the hidden significance of events and foretelling the future. (Britannica Concise Encyclopedia) Divinations – of both past and future events – is forbidden. Examples of forbidden divinations include: – “My bread fell out of my hand – so I will not go shopping today” – “I dropped my walking stick [...]
One may not rip out hair from one’s head while grieving over a deceased person. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Verse: “Do not make a bald spot… because of a death.” (Devarim 14:1) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim’s Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 164 Danny Schoemann (for more visit Danny’ website)
It is forbidden to get a permanent tattoo. One who punctures their skin and inserts die or coloring agents, deserves 39 lashes in Bet Din. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Verse: “… and do not get a tattoo.” (Vayikra 19:28) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim’s Sefer haMitzvot haKatzar; Prohibition 163 Danny Schoemann (for more visit Danny’ website)
One may not erect a stone monument – where the multitudes gather – for the sake of worship; be it idol worship or even worshipping Hashem. One who erects such a monument deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Verse: “Do not erect any monuments” (Devarim 16:22) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim’s Sefer [...]
It’s a Mitzva to wipe out all descendants of Amalek. Since nowadays we do not know who is a pedigreed descendant of Amalek, we are awaiting the arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi to enlighten us, after which we will wipe them out. May we live to see the arrival of Eliyahui Hanavi speedily in our days. [...]
It’s a Mitzvah to remember what Amalek did to us on the way out of Egypt. The Mitzvah is to mention his evil deeds and how he ambushed us, in order that we realize that we have to hate the nation of Amalek. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Verse: “Remember what Amalek did to you…” [...]
It is forbidden to make a stone floor to be used for bowing down, even if one is bowing to G-d. One who fully prostrates himself to G-d on a stone floor deserves 39 lashes by Bet Din. Even simply kneeling on a stone floor to G-d is forbidden. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur [...]
It is forbidden to decide that a Mitzvah is no longer applicable. This applies to Mitzvot from the Written or the Oral Law. The Rabbis have permission to prevent people from doing a Mitzvah under certain conditions, like forbidding to blow the Shofar on Shabbat to ensure that people will not transgress the Torah commandment of [...]
It’s a Mitzvah to put a fence around one’s roof (if it’s accessible) and to remove from one’s property all possibility of anybody getting hurt. Included is fencing-in pools, pits and reservoirs and not owning a dangerous dog. The fence needs to be at least 10 Tefachim high (~80 cm – 32″) and strong enough [...]
One may not add new Mitzvot to the existing 613 that G-d commanded us. Even declaring a Rabbinic-Mitzvah to be Torah-ordained is forbidden. If a Cohen adds a blessing to the 3-fold priestly blessing he has transgressed this Mitzvah. The Rabbis are allowed to add safeguards, decrees and thanksgiving Mitzvot (like Chanukah and Purim) – [...]
If one chances upon a mother bird roosting on her eggs or her nestlings, and one wants to take the eggs or the nestlings, one has a Mitzvah to first send away the mother bird. The correct way to do this Mitzvah is to pick up the bird and shoo her away. If she returns [...]
One is forbidden to stray from the rulings of the Bet Din HaGadol; the “supreme high court” that exists in the time of the Bet HaMikdash. Judaism and the Mitzvoth are defined only by what Moshe wrote in the Torah and what how he explained it in the Oral Law; the Mishna and Talmud. This [...]
It is forbidden to destroy anything that has Kedushah (sanctity). This includes damaging – even slightly – buildings and furniture belonging to a synagogue or Yeshiva. It is also forbidden to erase any of the 7 Hebrew names of G-d. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Verse: “Do not do so unto Hashem your G-d” (Devarim [...]
