10-Minute Mitzvah

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.

Despite the popularity of the phrase "neither a borrower nor a lender be," the Bible sees great value in providing a loan to one's fellow. Why?

The biblical emphasis on prohibiting the mixing of grape seeds with other crops highlights the fruit's special role in Jewish tradition.

The Bible's strange word choice regarding the prohibition against gossiping offers insightful wisdom into the biblical commandment.

The story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza illustrates both the destructive and healing nature of airing one's grievances.

Passages in both "Emma" and the Talmud stress that embarrassing one's fellow can have destructive consequences.

A passage from Jane Austen's "Emma" reveals the complexity of the commandment to rebuke one's fellow.

The history of the phrase "cut corners" offers insight into the prohibition against giving the various crop offerings out of order.

The biblical laws regarding land ownership protect both the private property rights of the Israelites and their covenantal bond with the land.

A Talmudic tale teaches that all of God's creations can play a holy role. 

How a commandment about grain offerings shows that God is sensitive to the economic status of all His subjects.

While grain offerings usually include olive oil, an exception is made when the grain is brought as a sin offering.

Jews are prohibited from placing a stumbling block before the blind. What does that have to do with a unique Holocaust memorial project?

The prohibition of publicly displaying an executed body reminds us that we are all created in God’s image.

The daily offering, brought in the morning and afternoon, serves as a reminder of the power of regular ritual.

The juxtaposition of the songs of Moses and Miriam in the Book of Exodus speaks to the strong bond between the siblings.

The poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” helps provide a better understanding of the commandment to eat the paschal lamb on Passover’s first night.

To Maimonides, the locations of Temple vessels have both physical and spiritual implications.

The contrast between Soloveitchik’s Talmud study and Kant helps explain why the Torah study blessing is only said once daily.

Two types of shekel, one historic and the other midrashic, speak to the exilic and redemptive history of the Jewish people.

The origin of the idiom “the devil is in the details” helps explain a notable inversion in the book of Deuteronomy.

A nearly forgotten mitzvah teaches us that we must constantly seek God in all experiences, big or small.

The story of Korach helps us understand the difference between arguments for the sake of truth and arguments for the sake of victory.

The blue strands on the tzitzit serve as a reminder of art’s power to both inspire and lead astray.

Letters written by the American Founding Fathers and Nachmanides’s commentary on the Bible share a similar attitude toward the nature of Providence.

The nazir’s final offering reminds them that some pleasures are good—when enjoyed with sanctity, fellowship, and faith.