Important Message Regarding This Lesson
The Daily Mitzvah schedule runs parallel to the daily study of 3 chapters of Maimonides' 14-volume code. There are instances when the Mitzvah is repeated a few days consecutively while the exploration of the same Mitzvah continues in the in-depth track.
Positive Commandment 212 (Digest)
Reproduction
"Be fruitful and multiply"—Genesis 1:28.
We are commanded to reproduce in order to perpetuate the human species. For this reason, a groom on the night of his wedding is exempt from the biblical obligation to recite the Shema, for his mind is presumably preoccupied with the impending mitzvah that he will perform.
This mitzvah is only mandatory for males.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 212th mitzvah is that we are commanded to be fruitful and to multiply, and to have the intention of perpetuating the species. This is known as the mitzvah of pirya v'rivya (be fruitful and multiply).
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> The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement;) (exalted be He), "Be fruitful and multiply."
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> Our Sages;) have explained that a groom who has wed a virgin is exempt from the mitzvah of reciting the Shema;) [before consummating the marriage]; and have given the reason that he is "occupied with a mitzvah.";)
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> The details of this mitzvah and its obligations are found in the sixth chapter of Yevamos.;)
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> Women are exempt from this mitzvah, as our Sages said explicitly,;) "Men have the obligation to be fruitful and multiply, not women.";)
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> Footnotes
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> 1.
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> Gen. 1:28. 9:7. See Heller, note 6. Kapach 5731, note 6.
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> 2.
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> Berachos 16a.
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> 3.
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> See P10.
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> 4.
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> From this expression, we see that this is a mitzvah, and therefore is included in the count of 613.
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> 5.
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> 61b.
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> 6.
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> Yevamos 65b.
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> 7.
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> Although women are not obligated in this mitzvah, when they bear children, they nevertheless receive the special reward associated with this special mitzvah just as the man. See Ran, Kiddushin, Ch. 2.; Likkutei Sichos, 8:214. 14:41-42.