any of the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Bible and additional ones of rabbinic origin that relate chiefly to the religious and moral conduct of Jews.
Jewish rabbinical commandment, 1650, from Heb. mitzwah "commandment, precept," from base tziwwah "he commanded," related to Arabic wasa "he bound, united."
any commandment, ordinance, law, or statute contained in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and, for that reason, to be observed by all practicing Jews
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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