Transcript Maimonides - Year 11-12 Studies of Religion 2Unit 2013-4

Maimonides
Maimonides – the man (11361204)
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Rabbi Moshe ben
Maimon was one of the
towering figures in the
history of the Jewish
people.
Of him it was said
“From Moshe (Moses)
to Moshe (the son of
Maimon) there arose
none like Moshe.”
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Among the Jewish people, he is known as the
Rambam, an acronym for Rabbi Moshe ben (son of)
Maimon ‫( ךמב״ם‬RaMBaM); while universally – for
his fame and influence reached far beyond the
confines of his own people – he is usually known as
Maimonides, the Greek form of “the son of
Maimon.”
Maimonides – in his time
Maimonides - chronology
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Born in 1135 in Córdoba, Spain.
Almohades conquered Córdoba in 1148 – offered
choice of conversion to Islam, death or exile.
Eventually settled in Fez in Morocco – acquired
most of his secular knowledge studying at the
University of Fez.
Briefly lived in the Holy Land, spending time in
Jerusalem.
Finally settled in Fostat, Egypt.
Maimonides – his contribution
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Maimonides composed
both works of Jewish
scholarship and
medical texts. Most of
Maimonides’ works
were written in Arabic.
However, the Mishneh
Torah was written in
Hebrew.
Letter by Rambam
Maimonides – contribution as a
Jewish thinker
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The Commentary on the Mishna, in Hebrew Pirush
Hamishnayot, written in Arabic. This text was one of the
first commentaries of its kind; its introductory sections are
widely quoted.
Sefer Hamitzvot (“The Book of Commandments”).
The Mishneh Torah (also known as “Sefer Yad haChazaka”), a comprehensive code of Jewish law;
The Guide for the Perplexed, a philosophical work
harmonizing and differentiating Aristotelian philosophy and
Jewish theology;
Teshuvot, collected correspondence and responsa,
including a number of public letters.
Sefer HaMitzvoth
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Tradition that the Torah contains 613 Mitzvot
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248 positives
365 negatives
Gives an explanation of how he determined
which commandments were the 613
commandments
Maimonides sets out fourteen rules by which
one comes to include and exclude particular
commandments to form the 613
commandments.
Mishneh Torah
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3 sections
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The Book of Knowledge (Sefer HaMada) – covers
issues of belief, study of Torah, repentance
Thirteen books detail Jewish ritual and civil laws
such as blessings, circumcision, holy days,
relationships between males and females, dietary
laws and ethics.
Notion of the Messiah – discusses the time when
Messiah would come – apocolyptic vision versus
Tikkun Olam.
Responsa - Teshuvot
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Maimonides was a much respected authority on Jewish
law and religion, even prior to his appointment as Chief
Rabbi of the Egyptian Jewry. As a result, many Jewish
leaders and authorities directed queries towards and
called upon him for his scholarly opinion on matters
ranging from religious law to the general civil issues
which affected Jews at that time.
He wrote various Teshuvot (Responsa) in answer to the
numerous queries which were directed to him from Jews
from all around the world. These Teshuvot deal with a
broad spectrum of issues, ranging from religiophilosophical problems to matters dealing with Jewish
law and explanations of complex Torah passages.
Moreh Nevuchim –
Guide for the Perplexed
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Blended the sacred and secular –
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Sought to remove compartmentalised sacred
from secular
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Defend Judaism against philosophical
challenges that the beliefs of Judaism could
not be rationally sustained.
Deals with the question of anthropomorphisms
(describing God in human terms)
13 principles of faith
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12.
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The existence of God
God’s unity
God’s spirituality and incorporeality
God’s eternity
God alone should be the object of worship
Revelation through God’s prophets
The preeminence of Moses among the prophets
God's law given on Mount Sinai
The immutability of the Torah as God’s law
God’s foreknowledge of human actions
Reward of good and retribution of evil
The coming of the Jewish Messiah
The resurrection of the dead
Different levels of tzedakah
(charity)
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8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Rambam organised a list from the least to the most honourable.
When donations are given grudgingly.
When one gives less than he should, but does so cheerfully.
When one gives directly to the poor upon being asked.
When one gives directly to the poor without being asked.
When the recipient is aware of the donor’s identity, but the donor
does not know the identity of the recipient.
When the donor is aware of the recipient’s identity, but the
recipient in unaware of the source.
When the donor and recipient are unknown to each other.
The highest form of charity is to help sustain a person before they
become impoverished by offering a substantial gift in a dignified
manner, or by extending a suitable loan, or by helping them find
employment or establish themselves in business so as to make it
unnecessary for them to become dependent on others.
How much to give
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Back from the time that Abraham welcomed the strangers into
his tent (genesis Chapter 18), charity has been a foundation of
Jewish life. The Torah commands us to give ten percent of
our earnings to people in need, based on Leviticus 25:35 and
Duet. 15:7-8. This is called Ma’aser, literally “one tenth”
(hence the English word “tithe”). This is colloquially called
tzedakah (charity). Maimonides lists charity as one of the 613
mitzvot.
Ten percent of a person’s wages after taxes should be set
aside for tzedakah. Business expenses and Jewish education
costs may be deducted from the ten percent.
For those who want to do extra, the Torah allows you to give
twenty percent. Above that amount is unrealistic. If you give
too much, you’ll come to neglect other aspects of your life.
Maimonides –
his contribution to medicine
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Maimonides also wrote a number of
medical texts; some of which are still in
existence. The best known is his
collection of medical aphorisms, titled
Fusul Musa in Arabic (“Chapters of
Moses”, Pirkei Moshe in Hebrew)
Maimonides’ Grave