Judaism: number of Mitzvot in each Torah Book
In Jewish tradition, it is generally believed that the Torah (the first five books of the Christian Bible) contains 613 Mitzvot. A Mitzvah (singular) is a religious commandment for how adherents should live their lives. It is believed that all but two were taught to the Israelites by Moses, after he spoke with God at Mount Sinai, and the most famous of the Mitzvot are the Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20. The book of Leviticus has the highest number of Mitzvot, with 243, while the book of Genesis has just two.
Of these commandments, 248 are positive; meaning they are actions to be performed, while 365 are negative; meaning they are actions to be avoided. A large number of the Mitzvot are no longer possible to perform, as many are rules relating to the Temple of Jerusalem; the first of which was destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6th century BCE; while the second was destroyed by the Romans in the 1st century CE. Many of the other Mitzvot have limitations based on gender, location, timing, or they are situational. By most accounts, it is believed that only 271 Mitzvots can be observed today, but again, many are dependent on the circumstances or individual.
Of these commandments, 248 are positive; meaning they are actions to be performed, while 365 are negative; meaning they are actions to be avoided. A large number of the Mitzvot are no longer possible to perform, as many are rules relating to the Temple of Jerusalem; the first of which was destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6th century BCE; while the second was destroyed by the Romans in the 1st century CE. Many of the other Mitzvot have limitations based on gender, location, timing, or they are situational. By most accounts, it is believed that only 271 Mitzvots can be observed today, but again, many are dependent on the circumstances or individual.
