10-Minute Mitzvah

Two interpretations of the Jewish wedding's glass-breaking ritual speak to the power of Jewish endurance.

The theft of a famous violin teaches a central lesson about the Jewish view of repentance.

The tales of Sherlock Holmes shed light on a commandment regarding a capital case.

Why is the palm frond the only one of the four species to be mentioned in the lulav blessing?

Why doesn't a sukkah require a mezuzah?

Cain and Abel’s story in Genesis illuminates a commandment found later in Deuteronomy.

The peculiar ritual that follows a murder reminds the community of their duty to care for one another.

The addition of Shemini Atzeret to the Sukkot holiday shows God's desire to be close to His people.

While Sukkot is best known for its particularistic themes, it also contains many universal messages.

The proximity of Yom Kippur and Sukkot on the Hebrew calendar suggests a deeper connection between the two holidays.

The Yom Kippur musaf prayer allows worshippers to experience the service of the past in the present.

While Yom Kippur begins on the 10th of Tishrei, one should start the holiday on the evening of the 9th. Why?

The prohibition of eating and drinking on Yom Kippur reinforces the singularity of the human soul.

The story of Amschel Rothschild and his Yom Kippur "feast" captures the joyous nature of the Day of Atonement.

The poetry of Robert Frost captures the many essences of Rosh Hashanah.

The call for sailors to man their battle stations mirrors the commandment to hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Moses taking the bones of Joseph out of Egypt links Judaism's past with its future.

Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik's interpretation of the laws of repentance speaks to the power of verbal expression.

The writings of the Roman historian Tacitus provide literary insight into a Talmudic tale.

A classic painting omits a vital detail of the biblical scene it recreates.

The Temple is a place for Israelites to live out their covenantal bond with God and a site for all peoples to gather in prayer. 

There are multiple translations of the sh'ma, but each one expresses a fundamental truth.

The stark difference in the ways Jews and Romans entertain themselves provides insights into the values of each culture.

What is the connection between the prohibition against envy and honoring one's father and mother?

The commandment to sacrifice the best of the flock is a reminder of the fragility of life and the grace of God.

How the laws of sacrifices reveal what's possible—and what's not—in creating holiness on Earth.

The prohibition of exchanging an animal designated as a sacrifice for a different creature reveals the true nature of value in the eyes of God.

Field workers are permitted to eat crops while laboring, but they're forbidden from gathering food for later consumption. Why?

A painting of a Jewish cemetery captures both the sorrow that comes from death and the endurance of those who maintain the memory of the deceased.

Allowing one's workers to eat from the fields while they labor reminds employers to see the blessing of God in their harvest.