Sefer ha-Chinuch
Encyclopedia
The Sefer ha-Chinuch often simply "the Chinuch" is a work which systematically discusses the 613 commandments
of the Torah
. It was published anonymously in 13th century Spain
. The work's enumeration of the commandments ' onMouseout='HidePop("76715")' href="/topics/Mitzvah">mitzvah
) is based upon Maimonides
' system of counting as per his Sefer Hamitzvot
; each is listed according to its appearance in the weekly Torah portion and the work is structured correspondingly.
The "Book of Education" separately discusses each of the 613 commandments, both from a legal and a moral perspective. For each, the discussion starts by linking the mitzvah to its Biblical source, and then addresses the philosophical underpinnings of the commandment (here, termed the "shoresh", or "root"). Following this, the Chinuch presents a brief overview of the halakha
(practical Jewish law) governing its observance - usually based on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah
- and closes with a summary as to the commandment's applicability.
Because of this structure, the work remains popular to this day. The philosophic portions are widely quoted and taught, while the legal discussion provides the basis for much further study in yeshivot
. The Minchat Chinuch
by "Rabbeinu Yosef" (Yosef Ben Moshe Babad, 1800–1874), Av Beit Din
of Ternopil, serves as a legal commentary.
of Barcelona
(1235-c. 1290), a Talmud
ic scholar and halakhist but others disagree, as the views of the Chinuch contradict opinions held by HaLevi in other works. This has led to the conclusion that the true author to Sefer HaChinuch was a different Reb Aharon Halevi, a student of the Rashba, rather than his colleague.
In 1980, Professor Israel Ta-Shma of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
demonstrated convincingly that the author of "Sefer ha-Chinuch" was in fact Aaron's brother, Pinchas ben Joseph ha-Levi, who had written the work for his son, Joshua.
613 mitzvot
The 613 commandments is a numbering of the statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses...
of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. It was published anonymously in 13th century Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The work's enumeration of the commandments ' onMouseout='HidePop("76715")' href="/topics/Mitzvah">mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
) is based upon Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
' system of counting as per his Sefer Hamitzvot
Sefer Hamitzvot
Sefer Hamitzvot is a work by the 12th century rabbi, philosopher and physician Maimonides. While there are various other works titled similarly, the title "Sefer Hamitzvot" without a modifier refers to Maimonides' work...
; each is listed according to its appearance in the weekly Torah portion and the work is structured correspondingly.
The "Book of Education" separately discusses each of the 613 commandments, both from a legal and a moral perspective. For each, the discussion starts by linking the mitzvah to its Biblical source, and then addresses the philosophical underpinnings of the commandment (here, termed the "shoresh", or "root"). Following this, the Chinuch presents a brief overview of the halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
(practical Jewish law) governing its observance - usually based on Maimonides' Mishneh Torah
Mishneh Torah
The Mishneh Torah subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka is a code of Jewish religious law authored by Maimonides , one of history's foremost rabbis...
- and closes with a summary as to the commandment's applicability.
Because of this structure, the work remains popular to this day. The philosophic portions are widely quoted and taught, while the legal discussion provides the basis for much further study in yeshivot
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
. The Minchat Chinuch
Minchat Chinuch
Minchat Chinuch is a legal commentary on the Sefer ha-Chinuch. It was written by Yosef Babad , Av Beit Din of Ternopil...
by "Rabbeinu Yosef" (Yosef Ben Moshe Babad, 1800–1874), Av Beit Din
Av Beit Din
Av Beit Din, Av Beis Din, or Abh Beyth Diyn . was the second-highest ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Commonwealth period. He presided over the Sanhedrin in the absence of the Nasi, and was the chief of the Sanhedrin when it sat as a criminal court...
of Ternopil, serves as a legal commentary.
Authorship
Some scholars ascribe the authorship of Sefer ha-Chinuch to Rabbi Aharon HaLeviAharon HaLevi
Aaron ben Joseph ha-Levi of Barcelona , known by his Hebrew acronym RaaH , was a medieval rabbi, Talmudic scholar and Halakhist....
of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(1235-c. 1290), a Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic scholar and halakhist but others disagree, as the views of the Chinuch contradict opinions held by HaLevi in other works. This has led to the conclusion that the true author to Sefer HaChinuch was a different Reb Aharon Halevi, a student of the Rashba, rather than his colleague.
In 1980, Professor Israel Ta-Shma of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
demonstrated convincingly that the author of "Sefer ha-Chinuch" was in fact Aaron's brother, Pinchas ben Joseph ha-Levi, who had written the work for his son, Joshua.
See also
- Sefer HamitzvotSefer HamitzvotSefer Hamitzvot is a work by the 12th century rabbi, philosopher and physician Maimonides. While there are various other works titled similarly, the title "Sefer Hamitzvot" without a modifier refers to Maimonides' work...
- Sefer Mitzvot Gadol
- Ben Ish ChaiBen Ish ChaiYosef Chaim or in Iraqi Hebrew Yoseph Ḥayyim was a leading hakham , authority on Jewish law and Master Kabbalist...
- Rabbinic literatureRabbinic literatureRabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writing, and thus corresponds with the Hebrew term...
- Minchat ChinuchMinchat ChinuchMinchat Chinuch is a legal commentary on the Sefer ha-Chinuch. It was written by Yosef Babad , Av Beit Din of Ternopil...
Resources
- Translation: The Book of Mitzvah Education. Charles Wengrow. Feldheim 1992. ISBN 1583303839
- Discussion: A Philosophy of Mitzvot. Gersion Appel. Ktav 1975. ISBN 0870682504
- Classes: A Study of the 613 Mitvot and their Meanings in our Lives. Rabbi David Botton. teachittome.com