613 mitzvot

In Judaism there is a tradition that the Torah contains 613 mitzvot (Hebrew for commandments, from mitzvah - מצוה - precept, plural mitzvot; from צוה, tzavah- command).

Significance of 613

The Talmud (tractate Makkoth 23b) calculates that the numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew word "Torah" is 611.

Related Topics:
Talmud - Gematria - 611

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The Torah states that Moses transmitted the Torah from God to the Jewish people: "Moses commanded us the Torah as an inhertitance for the community of Jacob" (Deuteronomy 33:4). However, there were two commandments which God directed straight at the Jewish people: the first two of the Ten Commandments; these are phrased in the first person.

Related Topics:
Moses - Deuteronomy - Ten Commandments

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Many Jewish philosophical and mystical works (Baal ha-Turim, the Maharal of Prague and leaders of Hasidic Judaism) find allusions and inspirational calculations relating to the number of commandments. Other works dispute that exactly 613 mitzvot exist.

Related Topics:
Baal ha-Turim - Maharal of Prague - Hasidic Judaism

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The tzitzit (knotted fringes) of the tallit (prayer shawl) are tied to the 613 commands by interpretation: principal Torah commentator Rashi bases the number of knots on a gematria: the word tzitzit (Hebrew: ציצת (Biblical), ציצית, in its Mishnaic spelling) has the value 600. Each tassel has eight threads (when doubled over) and five sets of knots, totalling 13. The sum of all numbers is 613, traditionally the number of mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. This reflects the concept that donning a garment with tzitzit reminds its wearer of all Torah commandments.

Related Topics:
Tzitzit - Tallit - Rashi - Gematria - Hebrew - Mishnaic - 600 - 13

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