Many people, however, including a large number of Jews, are unaware that the total number of commandments incumbent upon the Jewish people, as listed in the Torah, is 613: There are 248 positive commandments (i.e., commandments to do something), and 365 negative commandments (i.e., to refrain from doing). The Ten Commandments are included in the total of 613, as are the Seven Noahide laws. The 613 commandments are often referred to by the Hebrew word "Taryag," which represents the numerical value of "613."

Of course, not all commandments apply simultaneously. Furthermore, some only apply to specific people, such as priests, while others can only be performed in the Land of Israel. Many can only be fulfilled if a Jewish Temple stands, and for this reason, only 297 commandments today can be considered generally "applicable" (77 positive commandments, 194 negative commandments, and 26 commandments which can only be fulfilled while living in the Land of Israel).

"Not Applicable" does not mean that there is nothing to gain from learning about a non-functioning commandment. On the contrary, every commandment is an expression of a philosophical thought and Divine wisdom. The commandment may not be able to be performed today, but the concept behind its action can certainly be applied.

For instance, one commandment requiring the Temple's existence was the commandment to make an offering of an animal after transgressing certain Torah prohibitions. This practice may be difficult for the modern person to understand, but the actual act of sacrifice was considered holy, and emphasized a very great message about life: Life is serious, and errors are costly. A person who had to witness an animal being slaughtered because of his actions was spiritually changed for a very long time thereafter.

Commandments are often viewed as ritual, perfunctory acts performed only by the faithful. On the contrary, for those who understand their meanings, and appreciate the goal of Torah, the commandments become opportunities -- guidelines for channeling the awesome energies of human beings into worthwhile projects and endeavors.

THREE CATEGORIES OF COMMANDMENTS

Aside from the fact that commandments are referred to as being either "positive" or "negative," there exists another method of categorization. The Rabbis teach that commandments are usually one of three possible types: judgments, statutes, or testimonials.

Judgments are usually considered to be commandments whose reasoning is within human grasp, such as the commandment not to steal. Most human beings can appreciate the need to have a law not to steal, so that society can function and that people can live with security, a fundamental right of a civilized society.

Statutes, by definition, are usually just the opposite of judgments, that is, beyond human reasoning. For example, why shouldn't a Jew cook milk and meat together, or wear clothing woven from a mixture of wool and linen? The answers to such questions are not usually available to the human mind, though certainly Divine logic is intrinsic in such commandments.

Testimonials, such as remembering the Exodus from Egypt twice each day, are commandments that prevent the Jewish people from forgetting what God has done for them; they are meant to invoke a constant sense of gratitude for God's kindness.

COMMANDMENTS AS STRUCTURE

The very first man and woman created while inside the Garden of Eden, were given only one negative commandment to observe: Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16). The test proved to be too great for them, and they violated this commandment. In doing so, they caused death to enter the world, and mankind to be exiled from the garden.

Jewish mysticism teaches that the story of the Tree of Knowledge has many aspects to it, all very deep and profound with many lessons to teach mankind, and many warnings to heed. The single most important lesson to learn is that man needs structure. It is structure that "harnesses" the power of mankind, and directs it in a positive direction, very much the same way a yoke harnesses the power of an ox. Interestingly enough, the responsibility of living by the Torah is referred to as the "yoke of Heaven."

The difference between a "yoke" and a "burden" is that the latter inhibits, while the former channels energy towards an ultimate positive goal. The yoke helps the ox pull the plow, while the yoke of Heaven helps mankind to fulfill its potential, and to achieve long sought after goals such as peace on earth and universal brotherhood.

To fashion a life outside the framework of commandments is to create a society that will eventually lead to anarchy, as history has proven time and time again. Commandments are expressions of Divine will, manifestations of God's intent in His creation of mankind. They are eternal, unlike the philosophies of man which are, at best, the current "opinion" of individuals who quite often lack the depth of understanding of human nature necessary for making laws that can survive epochs of history.

The goal of a law is to protect what is precious. God's commandments are no different, and behind them is the Divine philosophy of life. This philosophy points to what a human being is capable of aspiring to, and also offers a system to use to accomplish it. When one understands and appreciates this about commandments, they are no more a burden to perform than any act of love one can perform for a loved one.