Moses Maimonides (1135 -1204 C.E.)

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Moses Maimonides (1135 -1204 C.E.)

• Rambam from the first letters of
• Rabbi Moses ben Maimon
• Famous writings and works

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Mishneh Torah

• Maimonides most famous and important piece of
  writing.
• Written 1168-78 CE, the Mishneh Torah was the
  first systematic and comprehensive codification
  of the entire Jewish law separated into 14 books
  or sections.
• It was written in Hebrew and was intended to
  encourage the average Jew to access the body of
  Jewish law more easily. a person who first
  reads the Written Torah and then this work will
  know from it the whole of the Oral Torah.
• The Mishneh Torah (The Second Torah or Repetition
  of the Torah) organised the complex and
  confusingly arranged Talmud into a logical order
  that was accessible to the non-Talmudic scholar
  ie. the everyday Jew

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Mishneh Torah (continued)

• Maimonides intention was to compose a book that
  would guide Jews on how to behave (halacha
  proper practice) in all situations just by
  reading the Torah and his code, without having to
  waste large amounts of time searching through the
  Talmud.
• The Mishneh Torah covered 3 main areas for Jews
• 1.The Book of Knowledge (Sefer HaMada) covers
  issues of belief, study of Torah, repentance
• 2.Thirteen books detail Jewish ritual and civil
  laws such as blessings, circumcision, holy days,
  relationships between males and females, dietary
  laws and ethics
• 3.Notion of the Messiah discusses the time when
  the Messiah would come

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The Guide for the Perplexed

• The Guide for the Perplexed (Moreh Nevuchim) was
  written 1187-1191 CE.
• It was a philosophical piece of writing in which
  he tried to bring together the philosophy of
  Aristotle (secular or non-religious) and Jewish
  theology (sacred or religious).

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The Guide for the Perplexed

• Remember that Maimonides was a talented
  individual and had a lot of other interests and
  qualifications in his life. Apart from being a
  physician and leader in the Jewish community, he
  also had an interest in philosophy.
• As such, Maimonides wrote the Guide for the
  Perplexed to combine both the beliefs of
  Aristotle (famous philosopher) and Jewish
  teaching.
• The Guide for the Perplexed blended both Jewish
  sacred teachings and secular philosophical
  thoughts

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Commentary on the Mishnah

• Written in Arabic 1158-1168 CE.
• In Hebrew Pirush Hamishnayot
• Offered brief explanations for each Mishnah
  explaining everything that is not totally clear.
• Includes new information and advice for the
  practical application of the Torah
• Discussed fundamental concepts such as prophecy,
  revelation and tradition

• In his commentary Maimonides elaborates upon the
  development of Jewish law and deals with the
  fundamental principles of Judaism as formulated
  in his Thirteen articles of faith.

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Thirteen Principles of Faith

• The Thirteen Principles or Articles of Faith
  highlighted that there were certain doctrines or
  teachings necessary for salvation.
• These Thirteen Principles were looked at in his
  Commentary on the Mishnah
• These principles have often been used to define
  Jewish belief

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Thirteen Principles of Faith (continued)

• 1.Existence of God God is creator
• 2.Unity of God God is one
• 3.Incorporeality of God God is a spirit no
  physical body or form
• 4.Eternity of God God is eternal
• 5.Prohibition of idolatry God alone is to be
  served and worshipped
• 6.Validity of Prophecy Revelation through Gods
  prophets
• 7.The preeminence of Moses Moses is the
  greatest of all prophets
• 8.Divine origin of truth Gods law given to
  Moses at Mt Sinai
• 9.Eternal validity of the Torah immutability of
  Torah as Gods law
• 10.The omniscience of God Gods foreknowledge
  of human actions
• 11.God judges humanity reward of good and
  retribution of evil
• 12.God will send a Messiah the coming of the
  Jewish Messiah
• 13.Resurrection of the dead Orthodox Jews
  believe in physical resurrection while
  Progressive Jews believe that ones soul returns
  to God/Heaven

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Sefer HaMitzvot

• Began by Moses in 1151 and finished in 1168 CE.
  Written in Arabic Kitab al-Faraid.
• Regarded as the most authoritative listing of the
  commandments, and numerous later works rely on
  its enumeration (some with minor variations).
• First comprehensive topically arranged code of
  Jewish law. Maimonides lists the 613 mitzvot or
  laws in the Torah (Pentateuch) and then gives a
  brief description of each.
• He describes each mitzvot using fourteen
  shorashim (roots or principles) to guide his
  selection and sites many illustrative examples.
• He further separated these laws into positive and
  negative commandments 248 positive laws and 365
  negative laws. Example of a positive mitzvot
  Keep holy the Sabbath and an example of a
  negative Do not steal

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Responsa - Teshuvot

• Maimonides was held in high esteem because of his
  knowledge of Jewish law and religion.
• Many Jewish leaders and authorities looked to
  Maimonides calling upon his scholarly insights
  into religious law, as well as, general civil
  issues.
• He wrote various Responsa (Teshuvot) in answer to
  numerous questions directed to him from Jews all
  over the world.
• These responsa deal with a range of issues from
  religio-philosophical problems, to matters
  dealing with Jewish law and to explanations of
  complex Torah passages.

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Responsa Teshuvot (cont)

• Maimonides famous Letter to Yemen in 1172 CE
  offered the Yemenite community encouragement and
  practical advice when local rulers issued
  religious decrees, forcing the Jews to choose
  between conversion and death.
• Maimonides numerous responsa regarding practical
  issues of halakha had a major impact.

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Golden Ladder of Charity

• Maimonides encapsulated tzedakah (charity)
  principles in an eight-rung ladder.
• The ladder creates a heirarchy ranking tzedakah
  actions from least honorable to most honorable.

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Golden Ladder of Charity (cont)

• 8.The person who gives reluctantly and with
  regret.
• 7.The person who gives graciously, but less than
  one should.
• 6.The person who gives what one should, but only
  after being asked.
• 5.The person gives before being asked.
• 4.The person who gives without knowing to whom
  one gives, although the recipient knows the
  identity of the donor.
• 3.The person who gives without making his/her
  identity known.
• 2.The person who gives without knowing to whom
  he/she gives. The recipient does not know from
  whom he/she receives.
• 1.The person who helps another to support
  himself/herself by a gift or a loan or by finding
  employment for that person, thus helping that
  person to become self-sufficient.