Maimonides―Essential Teachings on Jewish Faith & Ethics: The Book of Knowledge & the Thirteen Principles of Faith―Annotated & Explained

by Rabbi Marc D. Angel (Translator)

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.

Genres: Judaism, Religion, Philosophy, Reference, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jim Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a Philosophy and Theology student in college long, long ago and have continued to read pretty obsessively over the years. I feel like I've read most of the "big names" in philosophy, specifically in ethics and religious philosophy. Peter Singer and Nietzsche and Bertrand Russell and Lao Tzu and Thich Nhat Hanh and Descarte and Kant and Sartre and Camus and Thomas Nagel and Harold Kushner and John Rawls and the list goes on and on.

Somehow, though, I never read Maimonides till this week.

I'd heard the name before. But just sorta never got around to it.

This was interesting.

But not great.

This is a look at his "The Book of Knowledge" and his "Thirteen Principles of Faith." It's translated and annotated by Marc D. Angel, who writes a long and fairly interesting introduction. We don't get every bit of Maimonides' original work in here, but enough I think to get the gist. And Angel has a lot of commentary to explain the bits and pieces that might need explaining (though to be honest it usually wasn't that helpful, the passages are fairly clear and the introduction gave enough context for any of the muddier bits).

Maimonides comes across as interesting but not necessarily brilliant.

You get a lot of Aristotle here. His section on ethics and living a moral life is pretty much straight out of "Nicomachean Ethics" (at least what I remember of it, it's been more than 30 years since I've read that)-- basically find the "middle path." Don't be arrogant and pushy but don't be a doormat. Don't be a coward but don't be a risk-taking maniac. Don't starve yourself but don't be a glutton.

Good advice, of course.

I like his ethics in general. He's pretty practical. Don't be shitty to your wife, certainly don't push sex on her if she's not in the mood. Also, stand up straight. Don't murder people, speak clearly, have good table manners. Give to the poor, spoil your kids just a little bit, read Torah, keep your clothes neat and clean.

When it comes to faith, he's clearly hardcore, but not like "crazy" hardcore.

You should believe. You should worship. There is only one God. But like, if you live in a Christian or Muslim society that is persecuting you and threatens to kill you if you don't convert, the lie. Don't get yourself killed. Be Jewish quietly and just lie like a rug. Later, when you have the chance, let your light shine.

This is practical stuff.

Also-- don't be nasty to people who did bad things and then repented and are doing better. Turning your life around is hard, give people a freaking break.

And hey, being "God's chosen people" is not just all bells and whistles and pats on the back. It doesn't mean anyone is "special" or "better." It's a set of obligations. Non-Jews are just as good and maybe don't have to follow all the damn rules to get to God's love and grace, so good for them. Meanwhile, try to set a nice example.

Not bad.

His theology is about what you expect for a 12th century theologian. Maybe better than most. He's pretty pre-science, pro-knowledge, and happily concedes that a ton of scripture should be interpreted metaphorically. He even makes the claim that if reason and scripture seem irreconcilable on any particular issue he'll have to assume he's reading Torah wrong because God made both and he's not going to deny reason.

But... he's obsessed with God's "changelessness," a trend in theologians that I've always find disheartening. To me, that has always implied a certain lack of trust, like people have to insist that God "can't" change because they are afraid that the changes will hurt them, they can't trust that love to remain.

He also repeatedly claims "we saw with our own eyes" and "eyewitness testimony proves" for events that happened thousands of years before his birth. It's reaching. "This MUST be true because we saw it and we have to believe our own eyes," but it wasn't "our own" eyes and so on. Lazy in that area.

Overall, not bad, not brilliant, perfectly okay, glad I read it mostly so I can say that yes, I've read Maimonides.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard the name of Moses Maimonides (1138-1204) in one of our philosophy classes in Catholic seminary in the 1960's. Some 30 years later, in 1998, I had to the opportunity to visit Europe, including Spain, & particularly the city of Córdoba where I saw firsthand the statue of Maimonides in the old Jewish Quarter (Judería), on Calle Doctor Fleming. He was a famous Jewish sage & physician, & his face was issued on the shekel banknote(1985-1999). In the words of the author, "...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."

Rabbi Angel does a superb job in translating & commenting on these writings of Maimonides in his Book of Knowledge: "Laws of Foundations of the Torah"; "Law Relating to Moral and Ethical Character"; "laws of Torah Study"; "Laws of Idolatry"; "Laws of Repentence"; and "Thirteen Principles of Faith". It is interesting to compare Maimonides's religious theology with Christian & Muslim theology. One finds many basic similarities.

[Stosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good topical introductory to a great mind.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Annalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good commentary on Maimonides and a reminder to recite the Shema.