יסודות האמונה – 10 לא להוסיף או לגרוע משבע המצוות

בס"ד

Or any part of them, as they were given for non-Jews by G-d through Moses at Sinai¹

In the previous foundation – (add link) – we discussed the prohibition of adding mitzvot based on the principle that creating a new religion is forbidden, known as the prohibition of “chiddushei daat.” Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 10:9, presents this concept as follows:

עיקרון זה מתייחס לאיסור על יצירת דת חדשה, המכונה איסור "חידושי דעת".“

העיקרון הכללי השולט בעניינים אלה הוא: אסור להם (לא יהודים) לפתח דת חדשה או ליצור לעצמם מצוות על סמך החלטותיהם שלהם.

In this blog, we will focus not only on the prohibition of adding but also on the prohibition of diminishing. Jews are explicitly commanded not to diminish from the laws given by G-d, as we see in Deuteronomium 13:1  ו Deuteronomium 29:28

When we look at רש"י‘s commentary on Deuteronomy 31:1, we see that he explains only what it means not to add to the mitzvot (for example, by not using five species of fruit and plants in the fulfillment of the command of the Lulav). However, he does not explain what it means not to diminish, as this is so self-evident that it requires no explanation: we are not allowed to take anything away, not even the smallest detail, as אלשיך points out.

Alshich explains that it is inconceivable to reduce even the smallest part of G-d’s law because the laws of the Torah are perfect and complete, and diminishing any part of them undermines the integrity of G-d’s commandments. Therefore, it is clear that the Torah, as a whole, is immutable. The system of Torah law is immutable, and as שטיינזלץ notes, Torah law is G-d’s word, and since G-d Himself is immutable, His laws cannot be changed. This is the essence of the principle that the Torah remains unchanged.

This is also confirmed in מלאכי ג':ו'

This principle of immutability is also found in Numbers 23:19 

And we also find it in Psalm 119:89

As we see every day that through His Word the world is brought into existence, that the trees are there, that the water is there, that everything continues to exist unchangingly, so too does His Torah remain unchanging.

A current example of how people attempt to deviate from G-d’s unchanging law is euthanasia. In modern society, euthanasia is sometimes seen as an act of compassion, relieving another’s suffering. Yet the Torah is clear, as in Exodus 20:12: life is a gift from G-d, and ending it is forbidden.

And is it an explicit prohibition mentioned in the 7 Noahide Commandments:

In the Talmud, סנהדרין 56a, the Sages state that the “Bnei Noach” – the Children of Noah – were commanded seven commandments: establishing courts of justice, and the prohibitions of “blessing” (i.e. cursing) the name of G-d, idol worship, forbidden sexual relations, murder, theft, and consuming meat of a living animal.

Thus, despite the good intentions behind euthanasia, this does not change G-d’s law. This example shows us that we must not diminish the commandments of G-d, even when society considers it ethically right

מאת אנג'ליק סייבולטס
בתודה לרב תני ברטון על משובומקורות:

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1. הצופן האלוהי מאת הרב משה ויינר מהדורה רביעית עמ' 33 ↩︎