Maimonides—Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith & Ethics

Marc D. Angel

Description

The teachings of Judaism's greatest medieval philosopher can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.

No Jewish thinker has had a more significant impact on Jewish religious thought than Moses Maimonides (1138–1204). A medieval philosopher whose vision covered an extensive range, he created a method of mediating between revelation and reason that laid the groundwork for a rational, philosophically sophisticated Judaism. He also provided an approach to biblical interpretation and philosophy that remains relevant for people of all faiths who follow a religion based on sacred text and oral interpretation.

In this accessible examination of Maimonides’s theological and philosophical teachings, Rabbi Marc D. Angel opens up for us Maimonides’s views on the nature of God, providence, prophecy, free will, human nature, repentance and more. He explores basic concepts of faith that Maimonides posits must serve as the basis for proper religious life. He also examines Maimonides’s insights on reward and punishment, messianic days, the world to come and other tenets of Jewish faith.

Now you can experience the wisdom of Maimonides even if you have no previous knowledge of Judaism or Jewish philosophy. SkyLight Illuminations provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that reveals why Maimonides’s teachings continue to have profound relevance to those seeking an intellectually vibrant understanding of Judaism.

Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Laws of Foundations of the Torah 3
Laws Relating to Moral and Ethical Character 43
Laws of Torah Study 71
Laws of Idolatry 89
Laws of Repentance 105
Thirteen Principles of Faith 151
Notes 173
Selected Bibliography 176

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Moïse Maïmonide
• Religion
• Judaism
• Maimonides
• Jewish principles of faith
• Jewish philosophy
• The Children's Encyclopædia
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 24 janvier 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781594734052
• Langue: English

Extrait

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Maimonides—Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith and Ethics: The Book of Knowledge and the Thirteen Principles of Faith—Selections Annotated and Explained
2012 Quality Paperback Edition, First Printing Translation and annotation © 2012 by Marc D. Angel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information regarding permission to reprint material from this book, please mail or fax your request in writing to SkyLight Paths Publishing, Permissions Department, at the address / fax number listed below or e-mail your request to [e-mail].
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Angel, Marc. Maimonides’ essential teachings on Jewish faith and ethics : the Book of Knowledge and the Thirteen Principles of Faith : selections annotated and explained / translation and annotation by Marc D. Angel. p. cm. Includes the texts of Maimonides’s Book of Knowledge and his Thirteen Principles of Faith in English translation. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-59473-311-6 (quality pbk. original : alk. paper) 1. Maimonides, Moses, 1135–1204. Sefer ha-mada’. 2. Maimonides, Moses, 1135–1204. 13 ‘ikre ha-emunah. 3. Judaism—Doctrines. 4. Faith (Judaism) 5. Jewish ethics. I. Maimonides, Moses, 1135–1204. Sefer ha-mada’. English. II. Maimonides, Moses, 1135–1204. 13 ‘ikre ha-emunah. English. III. Title. BM546.A54 2011 296.1’81—dc23
2011040592
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover Design: Walter C. Bumford III, Stockton, Massachusetts, and Gloria Todt Manufactured in the United States of America

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In memory of my teachers, for whom Maimonides was a living presence

Haham Dr. Solomon Gaon Rabbi Dr. Meyer Simcha Feldblum Rabbi Dr. Moshe Carmilly

Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Laws of Foundations of the Torah
Laws Relating to Moral and Ethical Character
Laws of Torah Study
Laws of Idolatry
Laws of Repentance
Thirteen Principles of Faith
Notes
Selected Bibliography
About SkyLight Paths
About Jewish Lights
Copyright

Acknowledgments
I express my appreciation to Stuart M. Matlins, publisher of Jewish Lights and SkyLight Paths, for his role in the creation of the present volume. He suggested that I follow up on my book Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism (Jewish Lights) by preparing a translation of and commentary on Maimonides’s essential teachings on Jewish faith and ethics for people of all faiths and backgrounds. I thank the Jewish Lights and SkyLight Paths staff for their excellent work in producing this volume: Emily Wichland, vice president of Editorial and Production; Heather Pelham, book design and production coordinator, who typeset this volume; and Gloria Todt, book production assistant, who contributed to the cover design. I also thank Bryna Fischer for copyediting the text and Debra Corman for her proofreading talents.
I gladly acknowledge the work of other Maimonides scholars and translators. I have learned much from them, and they have influenced my thinking in important ways. Among those who have been most helpful to my understanding of Maimonides are Marvin Fox, David Hartman, Menachem Kellner, Shlomo Pines, Marc Shapiro, and Isadore Twersky. At the end of this book, I include a bibliography of their writings, as well as those of other scholars whose work has been valuable to me—and to so many other students of Maimonides.
I thank the members and supporters of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (www.jewishideas.org), of which I am founder and director, for their unflinching commitment to an intellectually vibrant Judaism, much in the spirit of Maimonides. I thank the trustees and members of Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City (founded 1654). It has been my singular privilege to serve this congregation since 1969, currently as rabbi emeritus. My Sunday morning Rambam class has been one of my ongoing joys at Shearith Israel, and I thank our class members for many lively discussions on the ideas and ideals of Maimonides.
I owe my greatest debt of gratitude to my wonderful family, each of whom is a unique treasure and source of blessing: my beloved wife, Gilda; our children, Rabbi Hayyim and Maxine Siegel Angel, Dr. Dan and Ronda Angel Arking, and Dr. James and Elana Angel Nussbaum; and our grand children, Jake Isaac Nussbaum, Andrew Zak Arking, Jonathan Marc Arking, Max Joseph Nussbaum, Charles Victor Nussbaum, Jeremy Victor Arking, Dahlia Rachel Angel, and Aviva Hayya Angel.
I thank the Almighty for having brought me to this special moment. I pray that this book of Maimonides’s teachings on faith and ethics will be a source of strength, inspiration, and happiness to readers.

Introduction
Moses Maimonides (1138–1204) is one of the greatest religious thinkers of all time. In Jewish tradition, he is often called the Great Eagle, the philosopher who rose to great heights and whose vision covered an extensive range. A popular saying among Jews is that “From Moses [of the Torah] to Moses [Maimonides], none has arisen like Moses [Maimonides].” Indeed, it can fairly be asserted that from the days of Moses Maimonides until our own time, no Jewish thinker has had a more significant impact on Jewish religious thought than Maimonides.
Among his singular contributions to religious philosophy was his insistence that religion must be based on sound intellectual foundations. Since religion and reason both derive from God, it is impossible for them to be in ultimate conflict. Rather, religion and reason must exist in harmonious relationship and together must bring us closer to an understanding of God. Maimonides provided a method of mediating between revelation and reason that not only laid the groundwork for a rational, philosophically sophisticated Judaism, but provided an approach to biblical interpretation and philosophy that remains relevant