614 Commandments??

 Good afternoon to all....

Many of you are familiar with the tradition that there are 613 commandments in the Torah.  I can tell you without reservation that this tradition is not correct.  Last Shavuot, I attempted to teach that subject for the holiday. It turned to be one of the most complex issues I have ever seen.  613 is a literary device of the Talmud.  How it becomes a literal device is fascinating.

As well, the title of this blog entry is "614 Commandments??"  Perhaps it should be "615 Commandments??"  The reason is that a local writer, Emil Fackenheim, said after the attempted destruction of European Jewry that #614 is to survive.

On the other hand, perhaps 614 can stand.  The suggestion you will shortly see might be a subset of a couple of others.

Most of you are familiar with the Decalogue.  The last commandment there is that you should not covet your neighbour's spouse.  As well, we are enjoined in other places not to endanger ourselves or others.

I humbly suggest the following:

Thou shalt not COVID thy neighbour's spouse.

Have a nice day.

R/SCG