What is the essence of Judaism? TB Makkot 24

With today’s daf Makkot 24 we conclude our massekhet. Our daf distills the essence of Judaism. All quotes come from Sefaria.org

“Rabbi Simlai taught: There were 613 mitzvot stated to Moses in the Torah, consisting of 365 prohibitions corresponding to the number of days in the solar year, and 248 positive mitzvot corresponding to the number of a person’s limbs. (TB Makkot 23b-gg)” Everybody agrees that the Torah contains 613 commandments; however, not everybody agrees what constitutes the 613 commandments. Hilkhot Gedolot, Rambam, and Sefer Hahenukh will come up with different lists.

“Rabbi Simlai continued: King David came and established the 613 mitzvot upon eleven mitzvot, as it is written: ‘A Psalm of David. Lord, who shall sojourn in Your Tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Your sacred mountain?(1) He who walks wholeheartedly, and (2) works righteousness, and (3) speaks truth in his heart. (4) Who has no slander upon his tongue, (5) nor does evil to his neighbor, (6) nor takes up reproach against his relative. (7) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, and (8) he honors those who fear the Lord; (9) he takes an oath to his own detriment, and changes not. (10) He neither gives his money with interest, (11) nor takes a bribe against the innocent. He who performs these shall never be moved’ (Psalms, chapter 15). Eleven attributes that facilitate one’s entry into the World-to-Come appear on this list. (I added the numbers to highlight his11 essential mitzvot-gg)

“Rabbi Simlai’s exposition continues: Isaiah came and established the 613 mitzvot upon six, as it is written: ‘(1) He who walks righteously, and (2) speaks uprightly; (3) he who despises the gain of oppressions, (4) who shakes his hands from holding of bribes, (5) who stops his ears from hearing blood, and (6) shuts his eyes from looking upon evil” (Isaiah 33:15). (I added the numbers to highlight his 6 essential mitzvot-gg)

“Micah came and established the 613 mitzvot upon three, as it is written: ‘It has been told to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord does require of you; (1) only to do justly, and (2) to love mercy, and (3) to walk humbly with your God’(Micah 6:8).  (I added the numbers to highlight his 3 essential mitzvot-gg)

“Habakkuk came and established the 613 mitzvot upon one, as it is stated: “But the righteous person shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).”

As important as keeping Shabbat and kashrut, these and other “ritual” commandments did not make any of the above list of essential mitzvot. The essence of Judaism is being a mench, a decent and kind human being.