Averot

Averot is the Hebrew term used in Jewish law and Rabbinic literature to denote sins or transgressions—the prohibitions prescribed by the Torah. Derived from the root avar, meaning “to transgress” or “to pass over,” the term is commonly applied to the negative commandments, that is, the commandments that forbid certain acts rather than require them.

Traditionally, the Torah is said to contain 613 mitzvot: 248 positive commandments (mitzvot aseh) and 365 negative commandments (mitzvot lo ta’aseh). The collective averot usually refers to these 365 prohibitions. Some enumerations vary by rabbinic authority, but the distinction between prohibitions and positive duties remains a standard feature of Halakhic discussion.

Examples of averot include murder, theft, false testimony, idol worship, illicit sexual relations, cursing or dishonoring one’s parents, eating non-kosher foods, and work on the Sabbath. Many averot also have associated penalties, and some are categorized by severity (e.g., transgressions against God’s commandments in the Temple era). The list is primarily definitional, with the practical scope defined by later legal codes.

In practice, averot are central to Jewish ethics and law. Observance aims to avoid averot, while repentance (teshuva) offers a path back from transgression through remorse, confession, return, and commitment to future obedience. The concept remains a focal point in Jewish thought on morality, ritual integrity, and divine judgment.