Moses Maimonides (1135 -1204 C.E.)

1. Moses Maimonides (1135 -1204 C.E.) Rambam – from the first letters of Rabbi Moses ben Maimon Famous writings and works

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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). The Guide for the Perplexed

5. 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

6. 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. Commentary on the Mishnah

7. 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

8. 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 God’s prophets • 7.The preeminence of Moses – Moses is the greatest of all prophets • 8.Divine origin of truth – God’s law given to Moses at Mt Sinai • 9.Eternal validity of the Torah – immutability of Torah as God’s law • 10.The omniscience of God – God’s 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 one’s soul returns to God/Heaven

9. Sefer HaMitzvot • Began by Moses in 1151 and finished in 1168 CE. Written in Arabic “Kitab al-Farai’d”. • 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.