Positive Commandment 28 (Digest)
Burning the Incense
"And Aaron shall burn upon [the altar] sweet incense every morning"—Exodus 30:7.
The kohanim (priests) are commanded to offer incense on the Golden Altar in the Temple Sanctuary twice daily—morning and afternoon.
The 28th mitzvah is that the priests are commanded to place [i.e., burn] the incense on the golden altar twice each day.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Aaron shall burn upon [the altar] the incense of fragrant spices; every morning when he lights the lamps [of the menorah] he shall burn it. And towards evening, when Aaron lights the menorah, he shall burn it as a continual incense-offering."
The laws regarding this incense, how to make it and the description of how it was burned each day are explained in the beginning of Kerisus and in a number of places in tractate Tamid.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 25 (Digest)
Kindling the Temple Menorah
"In the Tent of Meeting, outside the dividing curtain that is in front of the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set up [the lights of the menorah]"—Exodus 27:21.
The kohanim (priests) are commanded to regularly [i.e., daily] kindle the Menorah in the Holy Temple.
And the 25th mitzvah is that the priests are commanded to light the lamps [of the menorah] continually before G‑d [i.e., in the Communion Tent].
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "Aaron and his sons shall light it in the Communion Tent, outside the cloth partition that conceals the [Ark of] Testimony." This is known as hatavas haneiros.
The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the 8th chapter of Menachos, in the 1st chapter of Yoma, and in several places in tractate Tamid.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 40 (Digest)
The High Priest's Daily Offering
"This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer to G‑d"—Leviticus 6:13.
The high priest is commanded to offer the Chavitin meal offering twice daily—morning and afternoon.
And the 40th mitzvah is that we are commanded that the High Priest shall bring a meal-offering continually each day, in the morning and the evening. It is called "chavitin of the High Priest," as well as "minchas Kohen mashiach" [meal-offering of the anointed Priest].
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "This is the offering that Aaron and his descendants must bring to G‑d."
The details of this mitzvah, and when and how it is brought have been explained in the 6th and 9th chapter of Menachos, and many places in Yoma, and Tamid.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 41 (Digest)
The Additional Shabbat Offering
"And on the Sabbath day, two lambs"—Numbers 28:9.
On the Shabbat day, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.
And the 41st mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering each Sabbath in addition to the daily offerings. This is the Sabbath musaf offering.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "On the Sabbath day [you shall present] two [additional] yearling sheep."
The order of how it is brought is explained in the 2nd chapter of Yoma and in Tamid.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 27 (Digest)
The Showbread
"And you shall put showbread upon the table, for Me, always"—Exodus 25:30.
We are commanded to place lechem hapanim [known as "showbread"] before G‑d [on the Table in the Temple's sanctuary]. New loaves of bread are placed on the Table every Shabbat, together with frankincense. The priests then eat the previous week's showbread.
And the 27th mitzvah is that we are commanded to place lechem hapanim continually before G‑d [in the Communion Tent].
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "You shall place lechem hapanim on this table before Me at all times."
You are already aware of the Torah's statements regarding placing new loaves each Sabbath, that there must be frankincense brought with it and that the Priest eats what was baked the previous Sabbath.
The details of this mitzvah have been explained in the 11th chapter of Menachos.
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Positive Commandment 42 (Digest)
The Additional Rosh Chodesh Offering
"And on the beginnings of your months..."—Numbers 28:11.
On Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the Jewish month, we are commanded to bring a special offering in the Holy Temple, in addition to the regular daily sacrifices.
And the 42nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to bring an offering at the beginning of each month, in addition to the daily offerings.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement (exalted be He), "And on your New Moon festivals [you shall present a burnt-offering to G‑d]."
Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
Translation of (the unabridged text of) Sefer Hamitzvot by Rabbi Berel Bell, member of the Rabbinical Court of Montreal and director of Teacher Training for the Jewish Learning Institute.
From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by
Sichos in English.
