The “Problem” With Studying Rambam [1 minute]

Everybody sees themselves in the Rambam, but how should we really be approaching him and his teachings?

#rambam #religiousteacher #scholar #sage #mirror #torah #jewish #judaism #inspire #inspiration #torahwisdom #bible #inspirationalspeaker #motivationalspeaker #jewishtradition #wisdom #torah #spiritual #spirituality #torahwisdom #halacha

[ydydy]

My own view is that I am I.

I am ultimately the one who decided how to believe, what to believe, how to be and what to be.

Even hachna'ah (submission) to a
someone else's view is itself a choice that I have made.

Even *not* making a choice is on me.

Now. Rambam.

A. Why should I care what his views were?

B. What were his views.

The answers to A are all of the rational answers you yourself can give for this question. You know a bit anout both The Rambam and how he was/is regarded and can easily provide answers to A.

As for B, "what were his views?", once I say that I am willing to not only privately but publicly disagree with The Rambam should I believe that what he said or believed was either inaccurate or presently-inappropriate then you know that I am not situationally *required* to interpret Rambam in one way or another and am therefore likely free of most of the bias of those who choose to believe that Rambam's views were *punkt* what their own beliefs and practices are.

One explanation for why we pasken like Beis Hillel is that (what with Hillel's openness to potential joiners), Beis Hillel was full of lesser lights to those who populated Beis Shammai and that therefore (in addition to being students of Hillel HaZakein) they had the requisite humility to hear Beis Shammai out and to regard their views seriously.

Thus, in nearly every instance of a disagreement between the two Schools of Study, we trust the group that had little to lose by changing their views to that of the other one --- Beis Hillel.

Anyone who feels themselves REQUIRED to accept the view of Rambam (or of any other person, religion, philosophy, or practice) can not be trusted to see what is there because they have far too much to lose should they arrive at an "uncomfortable" conclusion.

I am not especially among them. No doubt I am arrogant by a great many different definitions of the term but ironically, publicly accepting the responsibility for my views and my self is something that allows me to say with the Moshe's who preceded me: והאיש משה עניו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

I have spent years seeking out those who could update and correct my understanding of things and while I imagine that 99.9% of current and future critics have criticisms worthy of being immediately ignored because I have already considered them and their importance, I continue to love being corrected where I am incorrect.

I ask of myself and of my divine that I open to seeing the truth, to loving it, to knowing correctly how to employ it and how to teach it, and to do so.

And I ask of would-be critics that, above all, you please acknowledge my Publicly Stated understanding of myself as a human gifted with all sorts of human imperfections and that if you have a correction for me you please, overcome your sentiments regarding my imperfections and seek to help me see the truth if you are sure that the way you will explain it to me is a way that I am capable intellectually and emotionally understanding, accepting, and using.

If you do this I will regard you as my closest and dearest benefactor and friend for having corrected me.

With love from my Rebbe, Moshe ben Amram ibn Ovadiah, 🙏🙏🙏

[hilliger]

That's because the Rambam is a universal figure.

[Maloney-hofb]

Shout to my dry scalp brothers sad😢stay strong. Wipe the flakes off and preach