The 6th mitzvah is that we are commanded to be close to the wise and to associate with them. We should constantly be close to them and to be with them in all possible ways of friendship, such as eating, drinking and doing business, in order to thereby succeed in emulating their actions and knowing from their…

The 5th mitzvah is that we are commanded to serve G‑d (blessed be He). This commandment is repeated many times: And you shall serve G‑d, your L‑rd”;1″And you shall serve Him”;2 “And to serve Him.”3 Although this commandment is of a general nature,4 as explained in the Fourth Principle,5 [and apparently should not be included in the count of the 613mitzvos,] nevertheless…

The 4th mitzvah is that we are commanded to establish in our minds fear and dread of G‑d (exalted be He); that we not be calm and nonchalant, but be constantly concerned of imminent punishment1 [for misdeeds.] The biblical source of this commandment is G‑d’s statement2 (exalted be He), “You shall fear G‑d your Lord.” At3 the end of tractate Sanhedrin4, there is…

The 3rd mitzva is that we are commanded to love G‑d (exalted be He), i.e. to meditate upon and closely examine His mitzvos, His commandments, and His works, in order to understand Him; and through this understanding to achieve a feeling of ecstasy. This is the goal of the commandment to love G‑d. [We can see that meditation is the…

The 2nd mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d‘s Unity, i.e. to understand that the Original Creator and Source of all existence is One. The source of this commandment is G‑d’s statement2 (exalted be He), “Hear [i.e. “understand”] O Israel, G‑d is our Lord, G‑d is One.” In most Midrashim you will find this mitzvah described…

Positive Commandment 1 The first mitzvah is that we are commanded to acquire knowledge1 of the nature of G‑d‘s existence, i.e. to understand that He is the Original cause and Source of existence Who brings all creations into being. The source of this commandment is G‑d’s statement2 (exalted be He), “I am G‑d your Lord.” [We see that this commandment…