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From: rhendel@king.mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 18:39:06 -0400
Subject: Only Source for 613 Mitzvoth

I am responding to [Katz, Vol 24 #20] who asks for the source that there
are Taryag mitzvoth.  I once heard Rabbi Joseph B Soloveitchick discuss
this in a lecture.

The Rav said that the only Talmudic or Midrashic source was a Gemarrah
at the end of Makoth.

The Rav proceeded to explain that just as people 'have mazol' so do
Talmudic statements 'have mazol'.

There are many quotes which occur several times in Talmud or Midrash and
never elaborated on.  On the other hand this obscure one time quote that
there are 613 mitzvoth has produced the very rich literature seeking the
accurate count of "which 613."

I hope this answers the question and inspires further reflection.

Russell Hendel, rhendel @ mcs . drexel . edu