Maimonides
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Please Note: Some alterations have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected as it once was, pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following three truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (the LORD your Elo’lei’chem) which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
“This is My Name FOREVER, and this is My Memorial to ALL Generations”. Shemot - Exodus 3:15. (JPS).
“I am יְהוָה, that is My Name; and My glory will I not give to another”.
Yeshayahu - Isaiah 42:8. (JPS).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Just before this new study, I would like to commence with two verses from the book of Yahushua - Joshua Ch 1:7-8. (JPS-1917).
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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Part One.
Introdction:
Rabbi “Moses ben Maimon” who was also known as “Maimonides”, or by the acronym of “Rambam”, who was a hugely influential medieval Sephardic rabbi, as well as being a physician, and philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. He is revered in Jewish, Islamic, and Arab intellectual history.
Early life and exile:
He was born into prominence
in Córdoba, Spain, around 1135 or 1138. Maimonides was part of a most
distinguished family. His father, “Maimon ben Joseph”, was a rabbinic judge, and Maimonides himself
claimed descent from King Dovid - David. He received a traditional education in
Torah from his father, and in due course he became the ultimate scholar of the
blessed Torah!
However, he was forced to flee in 1148, due to the ‘Almohads’, being a fanatical Islamic sect, who conquered Córdoba, and they forced both the Hebrew and Christian communities to choose between conversion to Islam or be exiled. Of course, the Maimonides’ family chose exile and spent the next decade moving through southern Spain and North Africa before finally settled in Fez, Morocco.
After tragically a rabbi who he had studied with was executed in Fez, the family fled one again in 1165. They travelled to Palestine before ultimately settling in ‘Fustat’ (Old Cairo), in Egypt, around 1168.
Life in Egypt and personal tragedy:
Upon arriving in Egypt,
Maimonides was supported by his younger brother, David, who was a merchant
there. However, sadly David died in a shipwreck carrying the family's fortune, leaving
Maimonides as the sole provider for both his own family, and his late brother’s
family.
This tragedy forced Maimonides to take up the vocation of physician, and he was remarkably successful, so much so he became the court physician to ‘Sultan Saladin’, and later to Saladin’s son.
He also served as the ‘Nagid’, or ‘head’, of the Jewish community in Egypt. Maimonides famously described his exhaustion from tending to patients all day before returning home to crowds of people waiting for him until the evening.
His major contributions and legacy:
Maimonides’s great
contribution to Jewish law is the 14-volume “Mishneh
Torah”, which systematically
compiles and codifies all Jewish laws. Written in lucid Hebrew, it provided a
clear and accessible guide to Jewish law, although it drew some criticism for
not including certain references.
His philosophical masterpiece was the “Guide for the Perplexed”, written in ‘Judeo-Arabic, which sought to resolve the tension between ‘Aristotelian science’ and ‘philosophy’ with Hebrew teachings. However, this work proved controversial in its time and was even banned by certain Kabbalistic rabbis, what’s new?
In addition to his philosophical and works of faith, Maimonides wrote extensively on medicine. He documented various conditions, like ‘diabetes’ and ‘asthma’, and emphasized preventive medicine and a healthy lifestyle.
Thirteen Principles of Faith:
In his commentary on the Mishnah, he established the magnificent, Hebrew “Thirteen Principles of Faith”, an excellent summary of what is considered to be the mandatory beliefs of us the Hebrews.
The legacy of Maimonides
continues to resonate strongly to this day. His philosophical and legal
writings are studied throughout the world, influencing later thinkers in our
faith and beyond.
Rabbi Maimonides, sadly passed away on December 13, 1204, in ‘Fustat’
(Old Cairo), however, he
was buried in Tiberias, Yisrael, at a site which to this day remains a popular pilgrimage destination.
Part Two.
Maimonides’ Controversy:
While Maimonides never explicitly denounces the introduced Rabbinic Judaism or the Talmud, he does offer subtle critiques of certain aspects of the erroneous rabbinic culture being Kabalistic mystical and occultic movements.
Such as:
1. Against Rabbinic Literalism:
Maimonides often criticizes rabbis who interpret anthropomorphic descriptions of God literally.
He insists that divine attributes must be understood philosophically, not physically, which puts him at odds with the Kabalistic rabbinic traditions.
2. Skepticism Toward Popular Rabbinic Culture:
He expresses concern about the intellectual shallowness of many rabbis of his day, who focus on legal minutiae without philosophical depth.
Menachem Kellner notes that Maimonides viewed much of rabbinic culture as lacking in rational rigor.
3. No Mention of the Zohar:
Considering the Zohar emerged in within other works, in the late 13th century, he decided not comment on it, most likely of its evil contents.
However, later Kabbalists viewed Maimonides with suspicion, and these mystic rabbis saw his rationalism as anti-mystical so called truth.
4. Implicit Critique of Kabbalistic Ideas:
Maimonides avoids any endorsement of Kabbalah ideas called ‘sefirot’, ‘divine emanations’, or ‘mystical union’, whist they went in a stupor and had fallen into a trance which made them non-human.
His theology was strictly negative, emphasizing what God is not, rather than mystical speculation about all kinds of so called divine structures.
5. Tension with Later Kabbalah:
Kabbalists, who uses a work that came originally from the author of the Zohar in the second century, and later Chasidic thinkers often rejected Maimonides’ rationalism, be it that Maimonides was 100% Torah truth.
Therefore, the ‘Maimonidean controversy’ in the 13th-14th centuries saw fierce debates between philosophers and traditionalists, some of whom accused Maimonides of undermining their faith.
And that tends to happen with those who teach
the true Word of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהִים - the LORD Elohim, blessed be
His Holy Name, for the occultist Kabbalists were long
lost, and the whole Kabalistic movement is based on so many occult ideas, which
prove they are sadly part of the fallen Hebrew’s, and are lost in the sight of אֱלֹהִים, blessed be
He!
Summary of Key Tensions:
|
Area: |
Maimonides’ Position: |
Implication: |
|
Rabbinic Literalism. |
Rejected. |
Undermines simplistic readings of Torah. |
|
Mystical Speculation. |
Absent or avoided. |
Conflicts with Kabbalistic
worldview. |
|
Talmudic Culture. |
Critiqued for lack of philosophy. |
Encourages deeper intellectual engagement. |
|
Zohar/Kabbalah. |
Not addressed directly, but evil. |
Viewed as incompatible. |
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In Conclusion, a Question to
Deepen the Conversation:
Which part of the Tanakh study, or possibly a particular line or
statement within it has touched you the most? And how do you feel
about spending more time studying our beloved Tanakh? I pray that you are doing
well as a faithful Hebrew, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim willing you are upholding as many of our
blessed Mitzvoth’s?
I am well aware that the modern world sadly contains far too many
deviations as well as problems that seem to get in the way of
our Hebrew lifestyle. Yet worse than that, these days there are far too many
enticements, which can so easily throw many off track,
and I know that has happened far too much. Thus, if there are struggles
that are taking place in your life, be it at this or at any time, I am well
aware that sadly it can often have a terrible and a cruel effect upon your
life?
Dear reader, please remember this, pray for peace and solitude in
your life, and then work on keeping as calm as possible and learn to improve
your life, for אֱלֹהִים - בָּרוּךְ
אֱלֹהִים - Bless Elohim, He is always
there and ready to help and guide you!
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But as you may have discovered it has become very much a teaching site!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via a
number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat
Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your Elo’hei’chem);
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH your Elo’hei’chem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”.
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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