04-23-2009 Title: Negative Commandment #18 Message: Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today Second Section – the Negative Commandments 18. It is a negative commandment not to derive benefit from idols, their offerings, their servants, nor anything done for them As it states in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 7:26, "do not bring an abomination into your house." It also states in Devarim 13:18, "do not cling your hand to anything from their idols." A person that commits one of these sins, transgresses these two negative commandments. Any idol that was not fashioned by a human, like a mountain, or a tree planted originally for growing fruit and not for idol worship, or an animal that no act in the name of idolatry was done on it, a person is permitted to derive benefit from them but not from what is upon them (which is forbidden to derive benefit from). This applies in all places and at all times, for men and for women. |