Negative Commandment #40

Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos) By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

Second Section – the Negative Commandments

40. It is a negative commandment “do not desire a possession your friend has.”

As it states in Shemos (Exodus) 20:14, “do not desire.” This desire means the person tries to put his thoughts into action; he sends many friends to the person to persuade him until he gets the item from his friend. Even if he gives lots of money for the object, he has transgressed this negative commandment. This happens often with a son-in-law before the wedding who pressures his future father-in-law to get him certain items that were not stipulated in the agreements before wedding. Even if the future father-in-law fulfills these wishes, the son-in-law has transgressed the negative commandment of “do not desire.”

This applies in all places and at all times, for men and for women.

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