Maimonides’ Monumental Works

Commentary on Mishna:
“I worked on this Commentary under the most arduous conditions, as we were driven from place to place, traveling by land or crossing the stormy sea.”

Sefer Hamitzvot:
Enumerates 613 commandments.

Mishna Torah:
The first comprehensive Code of Jewish law, systematic, precise clear-cut and practical.

Guide to the Perplexed:
Maimonides responds to philosophical questions: G-d's existence, the purpose of Creation, G-d's relationship to the universe, the origin of evil, free choice etc.

Medicine was a sacred calling to the Rambam. He was concerned with the welfare of all who needed care, treating Jew and gentile, rich and poor, nobleman and peasant.
Fifteen medical treatises relating to poisons and their antidotes, asthma, and hygiene are attributed to Maimonides.

Important Maimonides Dates

1135 Passover eve Nissan 14, Moshe ben Maimon - Rambam, is born in Cordova, Spain
1148 Maimon family forced to flee persecution in Spain
1158 Rambam begins Mishna commentary
1159 Maimon family settles in Fez, Morocco
1164 Maimon family travels to Holy Land
1166 Settles in Alexandria, Egypt
1167 Begins Mishna Torah and Sefer haMitzvos
1171 Rambam settles in Egypt, serves as Sultan’s physician
1177 Completes his magnum opus, Mishna Torah
1204 Dies Teves 20. Buried in Tiberias, Israel

Love for a Wayward Jew

Written in rich prose interwoven with scriptural verses, Maimonides’ letters address the challenges of his time. The fanatic Almohadeen forced Spain’s Jews to choose between Islam and death. Many Jews hid their identity, secretly observing whatever they could. In this letter, Maimonides responds to a zealot who condemned these Jews as heretics.

...I point to this person's grave error, and the harmful damage he caused... Let us look back at historic precedents. Before the Exodus, Israel strayed from tradition and was unfaithful, yet when Moses questioned, “Perhaps they will not believe me?” G-d admonished him: “Moses, they are believers, the children of believers!”

In Elijah’s time, Israel worshipped idols. Yet, Elijah was taken to task for complaining: “Israel forsook Your covenant, destroyed Your altars and killed Your prophets.” (Kings I 19:9).  G-d admonished Elijah. “Rather than focus on Israel's faults, denounce the wicked nations!”

In Isaiah's time, Israel was steeped in sin, worshipped idols and had murderers, as he cries, “Woe, sinful nation, laden with iniquity” (Isaiah 1:4, 21). They treated Torah with contempt, saying, “Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 30:11).

Yet when Isaiah complained: “I live with people of unclean lips,” “An angel touched my lips with a hot coal, saying, 'Now your sin is cleansed” (Isaiah 6:5-7). At another time, when an angel accused Joshua, he was rebuked:

“G-d rebukes you, Satan...for he is a brand plucked from the fire” (Zech. 3:2).

Even great pillars like Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and the heavenly angels were chastised for disparaging Israel. Can you imagine the gravity of denouncing Jews as ‘sinners’ and “heretics?” He even had the audacity to record these slanders in his own handwriting!

These forced converts did not rebel against G-d to attain status or mundane delights, “For they fled before ...the sharp sword and stress of war' (Isaiah 21:15). They are not willful transgressors, and G-d will not forsake them.

... In this current persecution, even the oppressors know that the Jews do not believe one word of it, saying so only to save their life... The condemning writer should learn from G-d to treat His people with love and compassion.”