מִצְוָה
mitzva
A mitzvah is a commandment, and in daily speech a good deed
What it means
Mitzva means commandment, one of the duties of Jewish law; tradition counts 613 in the Torah. In everyday speech, Hebrew and English, it has come to mean any good deed: visiting a sick friend is a mitzva.
When Israelis say it
Bar mitzvah, son of the commandment, and bat mitzvah, daughter of the commandment, name the age when a child becomes responsible for the commandments: 13 for a boy, and 12 for a girl in most Orthodox communities and 12 or 13 in others. The words are also used for the celebration.
Frequently asked questions
How many mitzvot are there?
Jewish tradition counts 613 commandments in the Torah: 248 to do and 365 not to do.
What is the plural of mitzvah?
Mitzvot in Hebrew. Mitzvahs is common in English.