The Mitzvot

& Why They Are Detailed

The mitzvot (generally translated as commandments) were given by

God to the Jewish People as the comprehensive framework within
which to live a Jewish life, and enable each person to build a
personal, meaningful relationship with God. The mitzvot are the
means by which we can emulate God, develop and refine our
character, strengthen Jewish belief and infuse every action with
purpose.

The goal of this class is to understand:

o Why did God give us mitzvot?

o What is the nature of the mitzvot?
o Why are mitzvot so detailed?

Class outline:

Section I. Why Did God Give us Mitzvot?

Part A. Forging a Relationship with God
Part B. Emulating God
Part C. Character Development
Part D. Mitzvot Strengthen Jewish Belief
Part E. The Reward for Performing Mitzvot

Section II. What is the Nature of the Mitzvot?

Part A. Reasons for the Mitzvot
Part B. Categories of the Mitzvot
Part C. Eydut, Chukim and Mishpatim

Section III. Why are Mitzvot so Detailed?

Section I. Why Did God Give Us Mitzvot?

Part A. Forging a Relationship with God

1. Rabbi Osher Chaim Levene, Set in Stone, p.31, Targum –

Each mitzvah we fulfill intrinsically connects us with God.
Judaism is not as much a religion as it is a relationship. It is only
through mitzvah observance that man can build a deep, enduring,
and meaningful relationship with
God …
That a mitzvah is the very process of forging the bond [with God] is
contained within the very word ‫מצוה‬, “commandment,” closely
related to the word ‫צוותא‬, meaning a connection or a binding.

Part B. Emulating God

Each person is created in the image of God. When we perform a

mitzvah, we emulate the attributes of God.

1. Bereishit(Genesis) 1:27 – Man is created in “the image of

God.”
And God created man, in the ‫ַוִּיְבָרא ֱאֹלִהים ֶאת ָהָאָדם ְּבַצְלמֹו ְּבֶצֶלם ֱאֹלִהים בָָּרא‬
image of ....‫ֹאתֹו‬
God He created him …

2. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 28:9 – God calls on man to walk in

his ways.
… And you shall walk in His ‫ְוָהַלְכָּת ִּבְדָרָכיו‬
ways.

3. Talmud Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud), Peah 3:1 – Man

lives up to his Godly image when he emulates God’s
character traits as described in the Torah. This is called
“walking in God’s ways.”
Just like He is merciful and kind ‫מה הוא רחום וחנון אף את תהא רחום וחנון‬
so should you be merciful and
kind.

4. Talmud Bavli (Babylonian Talmud), Sotah 5a – One also

emulates God by performing acts of loving kindness to
others.
Just as He clothed the naked, so ...‫מה הוא מלביש ערומים‬
should you clothe the naked; ...‫אף אתה הלבש ערומים‬

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God visited the sick, so should ...‫הקדוש ברוך הוא ביקר חולים‬
you visit the sick; ...‫אף אתה בקר חולים‬

God comforted the mourners, so ...‫הקדוש ברוך הוא ניחם אבלים‬

should you comfort mourners; ‫אף אתה נחם אבלים‬

God buried the dead, so should ...‫הקדוש ברוך הוא קבר מתים‬
you bury the dead. ‫אף אתה קבור מתים‬

Part C. Character Development

Each mitzvah we fulfill refines our character, actualizes our

potential, and completes the creation of the world.

1. Rambam (Maimonides), end of Hilchot Temurah (The Laws

of Temurah) – The Mitzvot are God’s instructions and advice
for living and improving our character.
And all these matters [the ‫וכל אלו הדברים כדי לכוף את יצרו ולתקן דעותיו‬
mitzvot] are to [help us to] ‫ורוב דיני התורה אינן אלא עצות מרחוק מגדול‬
overcome our negative ‫העצה לתקן הדעות וליישר כל המעשים‬
inclinations and to correct our
traits; and most laws of the
Torah are instruction from the
Great Adviser [to help us] to
correct our character traits and
straighten our ways.

2. Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 16 – Outward actions have the

power to shape one’s inner character. The mitzvot are
those actions which will guarantee the improvement of
one’s character.
A person is influenced by his ‫ ולבו וכל מחשבותיו‬,‫כי האדם נפעל כפי פעולותיו‬
actions, and his heart and ‫ אם טוב ואם‬,‫תמיד אחר מעשיו שהוא עושה בהם‬
thoughts follow the acts he does ‫ ואפילו רשע גמור בלבבו וכל יצר מחשבות לבו‬,‫רע‬
whether they are good or bad. ‫ אם יערה רוחו וישים השתדלותו‬,‫רק רע כל היום‬
Even one who is a completely ‫ ואפילו שלא לשם‬,‫ועסקו בהתמדה בתורה ובמצוות‬
wicked person who constantly ‫ ובכח מעשיו ימית היצר‬,‫ מיד ינטה אל הטוב‬,‫שמים‬
thinks of doing bad deeds, if he ‫ ואפילו‬.‫ כי אחרי הפעולות נמשכים הלבבות‬,‫הרע‬
is inspired for the better and ‫ חפץ‬,‫אם יהיה אדם צדיק גמור ולבבו ישר ותמים‬
puts time into fulfilling Torah and ‫ אם אולי יעסק תמיד בדברים של‬,‫בתורה ובמצות‬
Mitzvot, even if it is not for the ‫ ישוב לזמן מן הזמנים מצדקת לבו להיות‬...‫דופי‬
sake of Heaven, he will turn to ‫ כי ידוע הדבר ואמת שכל אדם נפעל‬,‫רשע גמור‬
the good and he will overcome ‫כפי פעולותיו‬
his Evil Inclination through the

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 power of these actions, since the
heart follows the actions a
person does. Similarly, even if
one is a completely righteous
person who desires Torah and
Mitzvot but always involves
himself in bad deeds … after a
certain amount of time he will
become a wicked person, for we
know, and it is true, that every
man is affected by his actions.

3. Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 44:1 – The mitzvot were given

to refine humanity.
What does it matter to God if an ‫וכי מה איכפת ליה להקב"ה למי ששוחט מן הצואר‬
animal is slaughtered by cutting ‫או מי ששוחט מן העורף הוי‬
its neck through the spine or the ‫לא נתנו המצות אלא לצרף בהם את הבריות‬
throat?

[The answer is] “The

commandments were given only
in order to refine humanity.”

4. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, Alei Shur, Vol. II, p. 71 – Each person

has a unique mission in this world. The performance of
mitzvot helps a person reach that destiny.
Every person should know: ‫וידע כל אדם‬

I, with my abilities and attributes, ,‫ פרצוף פני וסגולות נפשי‬,‫אני עם כחותי ותכונותי‬
my face and the treasures of my ‫החיים‬ ‫כל‬ ‫בין‬ .‫בעולם‬ ‫יחידי‬
soul, am unique in the world. ‫ בדורות שעברו לא היה‬.‫עכשיו אין אף אחד כמוני‬
Among all those that are alive ‫ ועד סוף כל הדורות לא יהיה‬.‫כמוני‬
today, there is no one like me. In !‫כמוני‬
generations past, there was no ‫ בודאי הקב"ה שלחני לעולם בשליחות‬,‫ואם כך‬
one like me. And until the end of ‫מיוחדת ששום אחר אינו יכול‬
time, there will never be anyone !‫למלאותה‬
like me!

If so, certainly God sent me to

the world on a special mission
that no one else can fulfill!

5. Midrash Tanchuma Tazria, Section 5 – The mitzvot perfect

the creation of the world. For example, Sefer HaMitzvot (#
2) describes that circumcision is a hint to man that just as

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one has the ability to "complete" one's body, so too can one
perfect one's character.
It happened that Turnusrufus the ‫מעשה ששאל טורנוסרופוס הרשע את ר' עקיבא‬
Evil (a Roman general) asked ‫איזו מעשים נאים של הקב"ה או של ב"ו‬
Rabbi Akiva: “Whose actions are
nicer, those of God or those of
people?”
‫א"ל של ב"ו נאים‬
He answered, “Those of people
are nicer.” ‫א"ל טורנוסרופוס הרי השמים והארץ יכול אדם‬
‫לעשות כיוצא בהם‬
He asked again, “But can a
person make something as
beautiful as the heaven and ‫א"ל ר"ע לא תאמר לי בדבר שהוא למעלה מן‬
earth?” ‫הבריות שאין שולטין עליו אלא אמור דברים שהם‬
.‫מצויין בבני אדם‬
Rabbi Akiva answered, “Do not
bring an example from
something that a person cannot ‫א"ל למה אתם מולין‬
do, discuss something a person
can do.”
‫א"ל אני הייתי יודע שעל דבר זה אתה שואלני‬
Turnusrufus said to him, “Why do ‫ולכך הקדמתי ואמרתי לך שמעשה בני אדם נאים‬
you perform circumcision?” ‫משל הקב"ה‬

Rabbi Akiva answered, “I knew

that this was what you meant, ‫הביא לו ר"ע שבלים וגלוסקאות א"ל אלו מעשה‬
which is why I responded that ‫הקב"ה ואלו מעשה ידי אדם‬
what people do is nicer than
what God does.”
.‫א"ל אין אלו נאים יותר מן השבלים‬
Rabbi Akiva brought him stalks
of wheat and cakes and said,
“These [stalks] are the work of
God and these [cakes] are the
work of people.

“Are the cakes not nicer than the

stalks?”
Part D. Mitzvot Strengthen Jewish Belief

1. Ramban (Nachmanides), Shemot 13:16 – The mitzvot

reinforce Jewish belief in God, Divine Providence, and our
appreciation of being created.
All of these mitzvot serve as a - ‫וכן כל כיוצא בהן מצות רבות זכר ליציאת מצרים‬
testimony in every generation to ‫והכל להיות לנו בכל הדורות עדות במופתים שלא‬
the wonders that were ‫ ולא יהיה פתחון פה לכופר להכחיש‬,‫ישתכחו‬
performed in Egypt, so that we ‫אמונת האלהים כי הקונה מזוזה בזוז אחד וקבעה‬
should not forget them. And they ‫בפתחו ונתכוון בענינה כבר הודה בחדוש העולם‬

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serve to remove the claims of ‫ והאמין בכל‬,‫ וגם בנבואה‬,‫ובידיעת הבורא והשגחתו‬
those who deny belief in God. ...‫פנות התורה‬
One who buys a mezuzah for one
coin and puts it on his doorpost
with the proper intention
acknowledges the fact that God
renews the world, that he
recognizes God and His
Providence, that he believes in ‫ולפיכך אמרו )אבות פ"ב מ"א( הוי זהיר במצוה‬
prophecy, and demonstrates that ‫ שבכל‬,‫קלה כבחמורה שכולן חמודות וחביבות מאד‬
He believes in all of the Torah. ‫ וכוונת כל המצות‬,‫שעה אדם מודה בהן לאלהיו‬
.‫שנאמין באלהינו ונודה אליו שהוא בראנו‬
Therefore, our Sages taught that
“One should be careful with a
mitzvah that people treat lightly
just as he is careful with a
mitzvah that people treat
seriously” as all mitzvot are
precious and coveted. This is
because every time a person
fulfills any mitzvah he
acknowledges God. And the
purpose of all the mitzvot is for
us to believe in God and to thank
Him for creating us.

2. Devarim 6:24 – Mitzvot develop an awe and appreciation

of God.
God commanded us to perform ,‫ ליראה‬,‫החקים האלה‬-‫כל‬-‫ לעשות את‬,'‫כד ויצונו ה‬
all these statutes in order that ‫ לחיתנו כהיום‬,‫הימים‬-‫לטוב לנו כל‬--‫ה' אלהינו‬-‫את‬
we should fear the Lord, our God; ‫הזה‬
to benefit us for all time, to keep
us alive like this day.

Part E. The Reward for Performing Mitzvot

1. Talmud Bavli, Makkot 23b – Mitzvot themselves are our

source of merit.
Rebbi Chanania ben Akashia ‫ש ָּברּוְך הּוא‬ ׁ ֹ‫ ָרָצה ַהָּקדו‬,‫שָיא אֹוֵמר‬ ְׁ ‫ַרִּבי ֲחַנְנָיא ֶּבן ֲעַק‬
said, “G-d wanted the Jewish ,‫ ְלִפיָכְך ִהְרָּבה ָלֶהם ּתֹוָרה ּוִמְצֹות‬,‫שָרֵאל‬ ְׂ ‫ְלַזּכֹות ֶאת ִי‬
people to have merit, therefore .‫שֶּנֱאַמר ה' ָחֵפץ ְלַמַען ִצְדקֹו ַיְגִּדיל ּתֹוָרה ְוַיאדיר‬ ֶׁ
he gave them many mitzvot, as
is said, ‘G-d desired for the sake
of His righteousness to magnify
Torah and make it glorious.’”

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2. Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, Nefesh HaChaim, Sha’ar 1, Ch. 12 –
Each person creates his ultimate reward in the World to
Come.
“Reward” in the World to Come .‫וזהו ענין שכר העה"ב שהוא מעשי ידי האדם עצמו‬
is [a result] of the actions of the ‫ הוא העולה להתעדן‬.‫שאחר פרידת נפשו מהגוף‬
person himself. After the soul ‫ולהשביע נפשו בצחצחות האורות והכחות‬
separates from the body, it rises ‫והעולמות הקדושים שנתוספו ונתרבו ממעשיו‬
to delight and be satiated in the .… .‫הטובים‬
flashes of light and powers and
holy worlds that were added and
expanded by its good deeds …
‫אבל האמת שהעה"ב הוא הוא מעשה ידי האדם‬
The truth is that the World to ‫עצמו שהרחיב והוסיף והתקין חלק לעצמו‬
Come is the creation of a person .…‫במעשיו‬
himself; he expands and
prepares his own portion in the
World to Come.

Section II. What is the Nature of the Mitzvot?

Part A. Reasons for the Mitzvot

1. Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, Nefesh HaChaim 1:22 – The

ultimate explanation for each mitzvah is beyond our
comprehension.
A complete explanation of the ‫כי טעמי מצות עד תכליתם לא נתגלו עדיין לשום‬
mitzvot has not yet been ‫ כי התוה"ק אצולה‬.…‫אדם בעולם אף למשרע"ה‬
revealed to any person in the ‫ ואיך אפשר שיהא‬.‫מלמעלה ראש מעל כל ההשגות‬
world, not even to Moshe … ‫הדבר מסור להשגת האדם‬
Rabbeinu (Moses)…

The Holy Torah emanates from

Above, above all understanding.
How could [this understanding]
be given over to the grasp of
human beings?

2. Rambam, Hilchot Temurah (The Laws of Temurah) 4:13 –

We strive to understand the reasons for each mitzvah.
Even though all the laws of the ‫אע"פ שכל חוקי התורה גזירות הם כמו שביארנו‬
Torah are [Divine] decrees … it is ‫בסוף מעילה ראוי להתבונן בהן וכל מה שאתה יכול‬
still fitting that a person ‫ליתן לו טעם תן לו טעם הרי אמרו חכמים‬
contemplate them, and give ‫הראשונים שהמלך שלמה הבין רוב הטעמים של כל‬
reasons for them as much as he ...‫חוקי התורה‬
can; and the early Sages said

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that King Solomon understood
most of the reasons of all the
laws of the Torah.

Part B. Categories of the Mitzvot

1. The basic division of the commandments.

The commandments can be divided into two basic categories: 1)
between individuals and God (‫ )בן אדם למקום‬and 2) between individuals
themselves (‫)בן אדם לחברו‬.

Examples of mitzvot between individuals and God: Prayer, keeping

Kosher, and the Sabbath.

Examples of mitzvot between individuals and others: Tzedakah,

visiting the sick, and bringing joy to a bride and groom.

2. Positive and Negative Commandments.

The commandments can also be differentiated between 1) positive
commandments
(‫ )מצוות עשה‬which are proactive actions and 2) negative
commandments (‫ )מצוות לא תעשה‬when one refrains from an action.

Examples of positive commandments: Eating matzoh on Pesach,

returning a lost object, and honoring parents.

Examples of negative commandments: Not standing by idly when

one can save a life, not causing unnecessary pain to animals, and
avoiding derogatory speech (Lashon Hara).

3. Torah Mitzvot and Rabbinic Mitzvot (See Morasha class on

this topic)
The commandments can be further differentiated between 1)
commandments from the Torah itself (‫ )מצווה דאורייתא‬and 2) rabbinic
laws (‫)מצווה דרבנן‬.

Examples of Torah commandments: In addition to those mitzvot

cited above, integrity in business transactions.

Examples of Rabbinic commandments: Lighting a menorah on

Chanukah, reading the Megillah on Purim.

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Part C. Eydut, Chukim and Mishpatim

1. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb – Some

commandments are classified under unifying themes.
Eydut, Chukim and Mishpatim. ‫ חוקים ומשפטים‬,‫עדות‬

Eydut are those commandments which intrinsically testify to our

covenant with God such as the Jewish festivals, Shabbat,
circumcision, tefillin and mezuzah.

2. Shemot 20: 7 – Sabbath is an example of Eydut.

Remember the Sabbath day to ‫שֹו‬
ׁ ‫ש ָּבת ְלַקְּד‬
ַּׁ ‫יֹום ַה‬-‫ָזכֹור ֶאת‬
keep it holy.

Chukim are statutes to which we attempt to ascribe reasons for

their institution, but their ultimate understanding is beyond our
comprehension, such as the Red Heifer, Niddah and Kashrut.

3. Bamidbar (Numbers) 19:2 – Parah HaAdumah – Red Heifer.

This is the ordinance of the Torah ‫שר ִצָּוה ה' ֵלאֹמר ַּד ֵּבר ֶאל ְּבֵני‬ ֶׁ ‫ֹזאת ֻחַּקת ַהּתֹוָרה ֲא‬
which God has commanded, ‫שר ֵאין ָּבּה‬ ֶׁ ֲ‫שָרֵאל ְוִיְקחּו ֵאֶליָך ָפָרה ֲאֻדָּמה ְּתִמיָמה א‬ְׂ ‫ִי‬
saying, “Speak to the people of ‫שר ֹלא ָעָלה ָעֶליה על‬ ֶׁ ‫מּום ֲא‬
Israel, that they bring you a
completely red heifer, which has
no blemish, and upon which a
yoke has not rested.”

Mishpatim are the civil laws necessary for the proper functioning of
society such as not killing, not stealing, and paying wages promptly.

4. Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:11 – Prohibition of stealing.

Do not steal ... ‫לא תגנבו‬

Section III. Why are Mitzvot So Detailed?

1. Chofetz Chaim, Introduction to Shmirat HaLashon – The

613 mitzvot correspond to human anatomy and spirituality.
It is known that every person has ‫שָס"ה‬ְׁ ‫ש לֹו ְרַמ"ח ֵאיָבִרים ּו‬ ׁ ‫ָידּוַע הּוא ְּדָכל ָאָדם ֵי‬
248 spiritual limbs and 365 ‫שים ָהְרַמ"ח ֵאיָבִרים‬ ִׁ ‫ ַוֲעֵליֶהם ְמֻלָּב‬,‫ִּגיִדים רּוָחִנִּיים‬
spiritual sinews, and on them are ,(‫שֶּנֱאַמר )ִאּיֹוב י' י"א‬ ֶׁ ‫ ְּכמֹו‬,‫שִמִּיים‬ ְׁ ‫שָס"ה ִּגיִדים ַּג‬ ְׁ ‫ּו‬
“clothed” the physical 248 limbs ,"‫שְכֵכִני‬ ֹ ‫שִני ּוַבֲעָצמֹות ְוִגיִדים ְּת‬ ֵׁ ‫שר ַּתְלִּבי‬ ָׂ ‫"עֹור ּוָב‬
and 365 physical sinews, as it is ‫שר ְוִגיִדים ַוֲעָצמֹות ְוֹלא‬ ָׂ ‫שִהְזִּכיר ַהָּכתּוב עֹור ּוָב‬ ֶׁ ‫ֲהֵרי‬
said, “‘With skin and flesh you ,‫שֶּנֱאַמר‬ ֶׁ ‫ש ּוְסָכְך ְּכמֹו‬ ׁ ‫שם ְלבּו‬ ֵׁ ‫ ַרק ְּב‬,‫ְקָראֹו‬
have clothed me, and with bones ,"‫שְכֵכִני‬ ֹ ‫שִני" "ְּת‬ֵׁ ‫"ַּתְלִּבי‬
and sinews you have covered

9
me” (Iyov/Job 10:11). The verse
mentions skin, flesh, bones, and
sinews and refers only to ‫שִהיא‬ ֶׁ ,‫שר ְּבִקְרּבֹו‬ ֶׁ ‫ש ֲא‬
ׁ ‫ ִאם ֹלא ַלֶּנֶפ‬,‫ש‬ ׁ ‫ְוֶאת ִמי ִהְלִּבי‬
“covering” and “clothing.” ׁ ‫של הֶַּנֶפ‬
‫ש‬ ֶׁ ‫ ְוַעל ָּכל ֵאיָבר ְוֵאיָבר‬,‫ִהיא ֶעֶצם ָהָאָדם‬
‫ש ִמְּלַמְעָלה ֵאיָבר ַהּגּוף ַהְמֻכֶּנה ְּכֶנֶגד ֵאיָבר‬ ׁ ‫ְמֻלָּב‬
Who is being clothed, if not the .‫ ְּכמֹו ַהֶּבֶגד ַעל ַהּגּוף‬,‫ַההּוא‬
soul inside, that is the core of the
person, and each and every limb
of the soul is clothed from above ‫ש ָּברּוְך הּוא ְרַמ"ח ִמְצֹות‬ ׁ ‫ּוְכֶנֶגד ֶזה ָנַתן ָלנּו ַהָּקדֹו‬
with a corresponding “bodily” ‫ ְוֵהם ְמֻחָּלִקים ַּגם ֵּכן ַעל‬,‫שה‬ ֶׂ ‫שָס"ה ֹלא ַתֲע‬ ְׁ ‫שה ּו‬ ֵׂ ‫ֲע‬
limb, like clothing on a body. ‫ש ִמְצָוה‬ ׁ ‫שְּתלּוָיה ַּבָּיד ְוֵי‬ ֶׁ ‫ש ִמְצָוה‬ ׁ ‫ ְּדֵי‬,‫ָהֵאיָבִרים‬
... ‫שָאר ָּכל ֵאיָבִרים‬ ְׁ ‫שְּתלּוָיה ָּבֶרֶגל ְוֵכן‬ ֶׁ
And corresponding to this, God
gave us 248 positive
commandments and 365
negative commandments, and ‫שָאָדם ְמַקֵּים ָּבעֹוָלם ַהֶּזה ֵאיֶזה ִמְצָוה ְּבֵאיֶזה‬ ֶׁ ‫ּוְכ‬
they are also divided up ,‫שֹוֶרה ֶלָעִתיד ָלבֹוא אֹור ה' ַעל אֹותֹו ֵאיָבר‬ ׁ ,‫ֵאיָבר‬
according to limbs, for there are
commandments relating to the
hand and to the feet and to other ‫ ָאז הּוא‬,‫שין‬ ִׂ ‫שָהָאָדם ְמַקֵּים ָהְרַמ"ח ֲע‬ ֶׁ ‫ ִנְמָצא ִּדְכ‬...
limbs … ...‫ש ַלה' ְּבָכל ֵאיָבָריו‬ ׁ ‫שֵלם ַהְמֻקָּד‬ ָּׁ ‫ָהָאָדם ַה‬

And when a person in this world ‫ הּוא‬,‫שַּבּתֹוָרה‬

ֶׁ ‫שָהָאָדם ָזִהיר ִמַּלֲעֹבר ַעל ַהָּלאִוין‬
ֶׁ ‫ּוְכ‬
fulfills a commandment with a ֹ
‫ו‬‫ש‬
ׁ ְ
‫פ‬ ַ
‫נ‬ ‫די‬
ֵ ‫גי‬
ִ
ּ ‫על‬
ַ ‫שה‬ ָ
ּ
ׁ ֻ
‫ד‬ ְ
ּ
‫ק‬ ַ
‫ה‬ ‫ור‬
ֹ‫א‬ ְ
‫ך‬ ‫שי‬
ִ
ׁ ‫ַמְמ‬
certain limb, in the future light
will rest on that limb …

Subsequently, when a person

fulfills the 248 positive
commandments, he is the
complete person holy to God in
all of his limbs … And if a person
is careful not to transgress the
negative commandments in the
Torah, he brings the light of
holiness down onto the “‘sinews”
of his soul.

2. Aish.com – Analogy of mitzvot and the Internet: just as

details are crucial in the physical world, so too in the
spiritual would.
Would anyone be so nitpicky as to differentiate between
“yahoocom” and
“yahoo.com?” Isn’t it a bit ridiculous that you didn't get my email
just
because of a little dot?

No, it’s not ridiculous. Because the dot is not just a dot. It represents

10
something. That dot has meaning far beyond the pixels on the
screen that
form it. To me it may seem insignificant, but that is simply due to
my
lack of knowledge of the ways of the web.

11