Let's start with a brief introduction: Sefer Hamitzvos

A few years ago, I started wearing tzitzis almost every day. Over the first days of Sukkos, I started thinking about why. I found that my motive was that when I put on tzitzis, I think about wrapping myself in 613 mitzvos (The Hebrew word “tzitzis” (ציצית) has a numerical value (gematria) of 600. When you add them up, you get 600. Each set of tzitzis has 8 strings and 5 knots. When you add those numbers (600 + 8 + 5), it equals 613).

When I think of mitzvos, I usually think of them as commandments, things I am supposed to do because Hashem said so. Then I read Nissan Mindel’s My Prayer, and it completely changed my perspective. He explained that in the context of davening, it is a connection point, and an opportunity to bond with Hashem. I feel that the same is true with Mitzvos. Each one of these positive/negative Mitzvos are connection points.

Now, when I pick up a string, I think about a deed I can do to get closer to God. But then I ask myself, how do I actually get closer to Him if I do not understand or always feel it?

My goal with these articles are to take that question and think about how to live each mitzvah in an internalized real way, and make it part of who I am.

If you relate to anything I have said so far, I invite you to join me on this journey through the Sefer Hamitzvos, one mitzvah at a time.

Have a great day!

Avroham Y Ross

Please note: This series will not be a part of my weekly parsha articles, therefore it will not specifically be posted on weekends, or at any specific frequency.