Jews are known as bright people. In fact, we've been a people of books and wisdom for 4,000 years. Which makes for a lot of books and wisdom. What kind of wisdom? Well, there's the basic what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do stuff. Then there's the stories and legends. And there's the real deep what-is-life-all-about wisdom, including the secrets of the Kabbalah and Chassidic masters. It's all there waiting for you. In fact, it's your personal heritage. It's called Torah.

Torah shares the same etymology as the Hebrew word orah, "light"—its teachings shine a light on life and show you which way to go. And its study is a mitzvah—actually, the greatest mitzvah we have.

When:

"You shall teach [it] to your children and speak its words when you sit in your house, when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise"—Deuteronomy.

Its study is a mitzvah—actually, the greatest mitzvah we have.A Jew is always studying Torah—24/7/365. We take breaks to eat, sleep, pray, make a living and reenergize. The remainder of the time we connect to G‑d through studying His wisdom.

The minimum requirement is that you fix some time for study once a day and once a night. Can't devote as much time as you'd like? Support a yeshivah and be a partner in their study.

Who:

The rich and the poor, healthy and sick, old and young, smart or dim. Torah is every Jew's personal heritage.

What:

"It is not your job to finish the task, but neither are you free to absolve yourself from it..."—Ethics.

Start with the rules that impact daily life, Shabbat, holidays, etc. And then keep on learning; there's more than enough material to last several lifetimes.

Articulate the words you study. Allow the holiness to impact and refine your body.

How:

• Join a class at your local Chabad House.

• Get online to a Torah learning website, like www.chabad.org.

• Study one-on-one with a scholar. Click here for details.

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what are the diference between the ten commandmnets and the 613 commandments

 

The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of 10 divine commandments that are recorded in the Hebrew Bible, or the Tanakh. They are considered to be a foundational part of the Jewish faith and are also significant in Christianity and other Abrahamic religions. The Ten Commandments are recorded in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 20, and cover a wide range of topics, including the worship of God, the use of God's name, the observance of the Sabbath, and ethical behavior towards others.

 

The 613 commandments, or mitzvos, are a larger set of commandments that are prescribed in the Torah, the Jewish holy scriptures. The Torah is the primary source of Jewish law and contains a wide range of mitzvos that regulate every aspect of Jewish life. These mitzvos cover a wide range of topics, including religious practices, ethical behavior, social justice, and interpersonal relationships. There are 613 mitzvos in total, which are divided into two categories: 248 positive mitzvos, which prescribe specific actions that Jews are commanded to perform, and 365 negative mitzvos, which prescribe actions that Jews are forbidden to do.

 

The Ten Commandments are a subset of the 613 commandments, and are considered to be a foundational set of moral and ethical principles that guide Jewish life and behavior. The 613 commandments are a more comprehensive set of commandments that cover a wide range of topics and are designed to regulate every aspect of Jewish life. Together, the Ten Commandments and the 613 commandments form the basis of Jewish law and are a key part of the covenant between God and the Jewish people.