What are the ethical mitzvot?
The performance of mitzvot are not ends in of themselves. The sages have noted that the mitzvot are designed to effect a change in our lives. Prof. Rabbi Jacob Neusner, echoing the classical rabbinic position, has written "I know of no ritual commandments lacking in ethical or doctrinal content, for however arcane a commandment may be...it still provides the opportunity to sanctify a corner of the day-to-day world, humble or remote as that corner may seem." ["The Condition of Jewish Belief", p.155, MacMillan Company, 1966]
Conservative Jews are especialy encouraged to read "Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism" pages 44-46 and "Mitzvah Means Commandment" (Elliot Dorff, USCJ, 1989) pages 70-81 and 223-29.
In light of this, Jews are obligated to be aware of the many direct ethical mitzvot. These include:
Beit Z'Kenim - Providing for the needs of the elderly. "When the physical frailties of old age set in, it is a great mitzvah to provide for the material and physical needs of the elderly, and to accord them the honor that is duly theirs for their gift of life and nurture, and for their accumulated wisdom and experience." From "Living Judaism", p.254. Also see "The Third Jewish Catalog" p.78-91 and 146-150).
http://www.uscj.org/scripts/uscj/paper/Article.asp?ArticleID=731
Hakhnasat Orchim - Hospitality for friends, families, and even strangers. One of the most common forms of this mitzvah is putting up people for Shabbat and the Shalosh Regalim (Sukkot, Shavuot and Pesach). "The First Jewish Catalog" p.275-277
http://www.templeshalom.net/newcurrhtml/orchim.html
Bikur Cholim - Visiting the sick. "It is a great act of kindness to visit those who are ill, to offer comfort, encouragement and support" From "Living Judaism", p.253. Also see "The Third Jewish Catalog" p.140-145
http://www.jbfcs.org/bcholim/bukur.html
Halvayat HaMet - Attending to the needs of the dead. "It is a great act of kindness and love to assure the proper care and burial of the deceased, including caring for the dying, preparing the body for burial, placing the body in a proper coffin, accompanying the body to the cemetery, and burying the deceased in a proper grave. This is one of the highest of all mitzvot, because it is an act of kindness that can never be repaid." From "Living Judaism, p.255).
To facilitate the observance of this mitzvah, Judaism has made it incumbent upon each Jewish community to set up their own Chevra Kaddisha (Holy Brotherhood), the Jewish burial society. It is traditionally not made up of paid professional or the rabbinate; rather it is composed of regular members of the community. It is traditional for the community's most popular, powerful and learned citizens to participate. Also see "The First Jewish Catalog", p.172-181; "The Third Jewish Catalog", p.136-139
http://www.npr.org/programs/death/980308.death.html
Hava'at Shalom - Bringing peace to those in conflict. This mitzvah demands that we do our best to bring peace whether the dispute is between family, friends, or members of the community. The obligation even devolves upon us to attempt to help bring peace to the world at large. The Mishna (Avot 1:3) teaches us that one of the three foundations of the universe is peace.
Shalom Bayit - Peace in the home. "Words or actions that tend to destroy the peace and harmony of the home by introducing suspicion, anger or resentment, have no merit whatsoever, even if the words or the emotions expressed may be otherwise described as 'honest' or 'truthful' or 'self-fulfilling'." From Donin, p.133
Tza'ar Ba'alei Chaim - Prevention of cruelty to animals. Rabbi Donin writes "The Torah prohibits the torture of causing of pain to any living creature. One is duty bound to save every living creature from pain or distress, even if it has no owner. (If an animal is inflicting pain to human beings, or the creature has utilitarian value (i.e., medical research) one is permitted to kill it. After all the Torah does permit...animals for food." From Donin, p.56). This mitzvah is the reason why Jews do not hunt or fish. Eating animals is only allowed for sustenance; it is considered terrible to gain pleasure from the death of animals. Halakhically, hunting has been banned by Jewish authorities. Also see "Kindness to Animals" in "The Third Jewish Catalog" p.288-297.
http://www.jewish.com/askarabbi/askarabbi/askr690.htm
Bal Tashchit - (literally, 'Do not destroy'.) A general prohibition against being wasteful; An active and obligatory concern for the well being of Earth's environment. "The Third Jewish Catalog" p.306-315
http://www.coejl.org/
Chesed - Kindness. Kindness includes all forms of kindness shown by a person whenever he exerts himself on behalf of another. (Chofetz Chaim, Ahavat Chesed). To refuse services to a neighbor because one feels that he may suffer detriment is a behavior deemed as bad as the people of Sodom, "but when to serve other people may result to our inconvenience or the injury of our interests, we are commanded in every page of scripture and in Talmudical works to exercise humanity and show love for our fellow mortals." (Samuel David Luzzato, "The Foundations of the Torah" in _Studies in Torah Judaism_, p.157.)
This mitzvah is also known as Gemelut Chasidim (doing acts of loving-kindness), which more accurately means "covenantal love". Rabbi Wayne Dosick writes "Human beings - who are created in the image of God - are to imitate God by caring for any of God's children who are in want or need. By performing gemelut chasidim, acts of unconditional, covenantal love, people bring assistance and comfort to those in need; share with God in moving the world toward perfection; and bring kedushah (holiness) into their own lives." (Living Judaism, p.253)
116 Practical Mitzvah Suggestions
http://www.ziv.org/116Mitzvah.html
References
Wayne Dosick "Living Judaism" Harper Collins; "The First Jewish Catalog" Ed. Richard Siegel, Michael Strassfeld and Sharon Strassfeld, JPS; "The Second Jewish Catalog" Ed. Sharon Strassfeld and Michael Strassfeld, JPS; "The Third Jewish Catalog" Ed. Sharon Strassfeld and Michael Strassfeld, JPS; Hayim Halevy Donin "To Be a Jew" Basic Books
