Download Moses Maimonides

Moses Maimonides
Mishneh Torah
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Code of Law
Easy access to teachings of Talmund
Opposition – fear of Talmund not being needed
Book of Knowledge (Sefer Hamada) = Laws – Belief in God, repentance and study of Torah
Other books – Jewish ritual, civil laws, circumcision, Holy days, Dietary laws, ethics
Coming of Messiah: Peace and prosperity
Significance
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Guide to Jewish Law W/O having to study Talmund
Easy to understand and read
Sefer Hamitzvot
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Introduction to Mishneh Torah
List 613 mitzvot – divides into positive and negative
Positive –Perform an act
Negative – Refrain from doing something
Guide to the perplexed
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Philosophical work
Jewish faith not harmed by scrutiny of rationality and reason
Secular and sacred
Questioning of God as Human
Reasons for why some commandments may seem unreasonable
Stop religion from being irrelevant in everyday life
Showed that faith and reason were compatible and encouraged Jews to base their faith on
reason
Commentary on the Mishnah
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Make Judaism more relevant to average Jew in Islamic society
Learning the Torah and putting it into practice
Explained each mitzvoth
13 principles of Faith
o Definite statements of Orthodox belief
o Main features of Jewish faith
o Basis for creedal statements made by Jews
Environmental Ethics
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Creation story in Genesis
God Creator of all
Relationship between God and created world
Stewardship – human responsibility for world
o Failure to fulfil responsibility = consequences for humankind
World provides resources for human life
o Negligent use = environmental degradation
Isaiah = state of harmony between humankind and creation
Prevention of Hunter killing offspring and adult on same day – Leviticus
Exodus – Animals given Sabbath Day
Bal Tashkit
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Do not destroy
Prohibit any form of needles and careless destruction
Prohibit waster or excessive use of resources
Originally meant ‘do not destroy fruit trees’
Talmund uses Bal Tashkit to prohibit unnecessary slaughter of animals
Shabbat 1406 no to over eating
Promoting stewardship
Moses Maimonides teaches that the world is not only for humans – Moreh Nevukim 456
Tikkun Olam
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Working together for world peace
o Stewardship
o Peace
o Unity
Tu Bishvat
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New Year for Trees
Ecological awareness day
Trees planted in celebration
"their fruit shall be for food, and their leaves for healing" (Ezekiel 47:12)
Sabbatical Year
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The fields were to be left fallow (Leviticus 25':1-7) Bountiful harvests for those who observer
the Sabbath year
Sabbath of the land
Tdzecha
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Charity to the land
Marriage
Choson – man
Kallah – woman
Fasting until ceremony
Veiling of Bride – Groom veils bride
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Symbol of Rebeccah’s covering of her face before marrying Isaac
Symbolises modesty, dignity and chastity – Jewish womanhood
All knots on groom’s robes untied
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Before marriage all bonds eliminated
Chuppah – wedding ceremony under canopy
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Wedding
o open sky
o blessing of God to Abraham
transition from parents home to husbands
Ketubah
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Marriage Contract
Husband’s obligations to wife
Financial settlement in case of divorce
Symbol of covenant between God and Israel
Marriage is not only physical and emotional but also legal and moral
Breaking wedding glass
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Destruction of temple in Jerusalem
Remind everyone that even at joyous times, must remember the destruction
New life begins in community
Friends and relatives host meals in their honour
Marriage results in children, which results in the continuation of Judaism
Beginning of new life
Continuation of Judaism
Jewishness comes from the mother
Love embodies God’s revelation, creation and redemption
Married people are superior to single
Marriage is the goal – rabbis must be married
Fulfilment of mitzvot
Genesis first commandment – be fruitful and multiply
Ezekiel – Establishing family in loving home
Genesis – One should not be alone
Genesis – Having children – continuing of Jewish tradition