Mitzvah Mitzvah In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; meaning "commandment", , , Biblical: '; plural ' , Biblical: '; from ' "command") refers to precepts and commandments commanded by God, with the additional connotation of one's religious duty. It is used in rabbinical Judaism to refer to the 613 commandments given in the Torah at biblical Mount Sinai and the seven rabbinic commandments instituted later for a total of 620. The 613 commandments are divided into two categories: 365 negative commandments and 248 positive commandments. According to the Talmud, all moral laws are, or are derived from, divine commandments.
Mitzvah goreret mitzvah is by habit, in which a person becomes accustomed to performing a mitzvah regularly. The contrast to this belief is called "aveira goreret aveira" in which the commission of an "aveira" (sin) leads to another sin. The phrase has often been used in songs for children to encourage the performance of good works. One popular song, written by Andy Vogel in 1986, was recorded on the Reform Jewish movement's "NFTY at 50" album, and is widely sung in the Reform Jewish movement. Mitzvah goreret mitzvah The Hebrew phrase mitzvah goreret mitzvah, averah goreret averah (Hebrew: מצווה גוררת מצווה; עברה גוררת