73

Not to tear the skin in mourning

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה

Do not cut or tear the skin as a sign of mourning for the dead.

This mitzvah forbids self-inflicted cuts or wounds during mourning, a practice common among idolaters who expressed grief through self-mutilation. The Torah commands Israel to mourn in ways of dignity and holiness, not through destructive practices. By refraining from such actions, we affirm that our lives and bodies belong to Hashem and must be preserved even in times of sorrow.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 12:13): Cutting the flesh for the dead was a ritual of idolatrous nations, which Israel is commanded to avoid.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 467): The root is to remind us that we are Hashem’s children, and even in mourning, we must not degrade ourselves.
  • Talmud (Makkot 20b): Lists this as one of the prohibitions tied to pagan mourning rituals.
(Source: Chabad.org)
בָּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם לֹ֣א תִתְגֹּֽדְד֗וּ וְלֹֽא־תָשִׂ֧ימוּ קׇרְחָ֛ה בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶ֖ם לָמֵֽת׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 14:1 - "You are children of the Lord, your God. You shall neither cut yourselves nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead."

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Holiness - קְדֻשָּׁה

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