A Short Tribute

It says that the number of positive commandments ["thou shalts"], 248, corresponds to the number of limbs in the human body, and that the 375 negative commandments ["thou shalt nots"] correspond to the number of tissues. When an individual transgresses, he or she harms the corresponding part of the soul; when fulfilling a commandment, a person repairs the part in the soul corresponding to the part in the body.
Our Sages, of blessed memory, did, indeed, ask: How is it possible for a person to fulfill all 248 positive commandments, since there are some that cannot be fulfilled, such as levirate marriage and the like? And there are commandments that do not apply to all People of Israel but only to Cohanim (priests by descent), such as the blessing of Cohanim and the like; there are also commandments that apply only to kings, such as, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself".
They explained that you may consider that through unity – when the people of Israel are unified in a single society and have love for one another – each and every person fulfilling a commandment is considered as though he or she had fulfilled them all - as it says, "Moses commanded the Torah to us". Should you ask, "How can a person fulfill all 613 commandments?" it says, "a heritage to the community of Jacob". Meaning, like a heritage, it is to be fulfilled by all, by the community of Jacob, and by being as a single community - in a united society.

The reason why they were enumerated here once again seems to be because this is where the text begins to recount the story of the enslavement of Israel - so that a person will not consider saying that it was because they were, heaven forbid, not respectable as a result of the troubles they went through during enslavement. Therefore the text counts them again, to show that they are important and beloved. Their number indicates their importance; one should not think that they were exiled because of their transgressions.

A person who has yahrzeit [anniversary of a death] or another matter and wishes to pray as the cantor or to be called up to the Torah Reading, and there be others who also have yahrzeit or some other matter, should not quarrel because he seeks to be the one to lead prayer or to go up to the Torah reading, for he creates a lack, heaven forbid. His silence, rather, is his recompense, and honors and pleases his father.

There are twelve windows in heaven corresponding to the Twelve Tribes. The prayers of each and every tribe rise up through the one gateway that is unique to it…There is no doubt that were the prayers of all the tribes equal, there would be no need for the twelve windows and gateways. But each gateway has its own approach, as it should, and since their prayers differ, special gateways for each and every tribe are necessary. Prayer resembles the roots and source of its souls, and it is therefore appropriate for each and every person to keep the custom of the order of his prayers, in keeping with the custom of his forefathers.

Moses said before God: Master of the Universe, you have seventy nations, and you command me for Israel alone?" The commentators, of blessed memory, ask: How did it enter our Master Moses' heart to ask the Blessed One to command him concerning the observation of commandments by another nation?!... In my humble opinion, the reason may be, with God's will, that our Teacher Moses, may he rest in peace, sought to grant merit to the nations.

Some people give charity out of shame, when they see wealthy people offering coins to the poor, for example. The dignity of a person who does not give, however, will be compromised. He gives for this reason, because of shame, so that his dignity not be compromised. Then there are those who give charity to the poor because of their complaints, fearing that the poor might complain to them and curse them… In all such cases, they do not give with a full heart, and because of this it says "Give to him readily", meaning to say – there are two gifts: one from the heart, and one not fully from the heart.

Torah study through Agadah [non-halachic rabbinic lore] has the power of pardoning all transgressions of Israel, and if one adds a kaddish to the Aggadah, even if an adverse sentence has been pronounced for him, the Holy One, Blessed be He, pardons all his sins. This is why it says "And all your children shall be taught of the LORD", meaning to say – If your children will all learn Aggadah and recite the kaddish – which is praise for God – then "great shall be the peace of your children": They will have much peace and even if an adverse sentence has been pronounced for them, it will be annulled.