“Mitzvah” refers to one of the 613 commandments from God in Jewish tradition, divided into positive and negative. It also means a good deed, which can be small or large, and is encouraged among people of all ages. Acts of kindness can be towards any living organism, including animals.
In Jewish tradition, the term “mitzvah” describes a commandment from God. There are 613 mitzvot, divided into positive and negative mitzvot. Positive mitzvot are commandments that command the faithful to do something, such as donate to charity or respect their parents. Negative commandments are explicit instructions about things people should not do, such as rapture and murder. These commandments are rooted in the Torah, the religious text that is the foundation of Judaism.
In addition to being used to refer to these 613 commandments, the term “mitzvah” also more generally means a worthy, good, or kind deed. Many people of the Jewish faith believe they should engage in mitzvot as often as possible as part of an expression of their faith, affirming their connection to God on a regular basis by doing acts of kindness in his name. A mitzvah can be large or small, with the intent to do good as the focal point of the action.
Any number of actions could be considered a mitzvah. For example, you might take seniors to medical appointments, donate to an arts organization, or volunteer at an animal shelter. The ability to use good deeds to connect with God enables otherwise disadvantaged people to establish a relationship with God and contribute to their communities. The homeless, for example, could not give tithes or donations, but they could volunteer to help pick up trash on the streets or perform other mitzvot to benefit their communities.
Many religions have a long tradition of giving charity and encouraging good deeds, and Judaism is no exception. Acts of kindness to others are considered good service and are encouraged among people of all ages. Even a small action, such as engaging in the common courtesy of holding a door open for someone else, or stopping to witness an accident, could be seen as a mitzvah. Some people try to form a regular habit of engaging in mitzvot, choosing one particular day a week to volunteer with an organization, bring meals or companionship to someone who is housebound, and so on.
The need to engage in acts of kindness is specifically spelled out in the 613 mitzvot, and those acts of kindness can be to any living organism, not just a human being. Caring for animals in need of assistance is a mitzvah, even dictating that people should help beasts of burden that have collapsed under a heavy load.
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