Climb Sinai: The Big Ideas of Judaism

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Foundations of Torah, Ch. 5

Our actions matter. They are either serving a mundane, self-serving agenda OR they are serving the highest of purposes which is to do what our Creator put us here to do — to do the right thing because it is the right thing.

Here are the Rambam's Opening words in this chapter:

The entire house of Israel are commanded regarding the sanctification of [God's] great name, as [Leviticus 22:32] states: "And I shall be sanctified amidst the children of Israel." Also, they are warned against desecrating [His holy name], as [the above verse] states: "And they shall not desecrate My holy name."

What is implied? Should a gentile arise and force a Jew to violate one of the Torah's commandments at the pain of death, he should violate the commandment rather than be killed, because [Leviticus 18:5] states concerning the mitzvot: "which a man will perform and live by them." [They were given so that] one may live by them and not die because of them. If a person dies rather than transgress, he is held accountable for his life.

When does the above apply? With regard to other mitzvot, with the exception of the worship of other gods, forbidden sexual relations, and murder. However, with regard to these three sins, if one is ordered: "Transgress one of them or be killed," one should sacrifice his life rather than transgress.

When does the above apply? When the gentile desires his own personal benefit - for example, he forces a person to build a house or cook food for him on the Sabbath, he rapes a woman, or the like. However, if his intention is solely to have him violate the mitzvot, [the following rules apply:] If he is alone and there are not ten other Jews present, he should transgress and not sacrifice his life. However, if he forces him [to transgress] with the intention that he violate [a mitzvah] in the presence of ten Jews, he should sacrifice his life and not transgress. [This applies] even if [the gentile] intended merely that he violate only one of the [Torah's] mitzvot.

All the above [distinctions] apply [only in times] other than times of a decree. However, in times of a decree - i.e., when a wicked king like Nebuchadnezzar or his like will arise and issue a decree against the Jews to nullify their faith or one of the mitzvot - one should sacrifice one's life rather than transgress any of the other mitzvot, whether one is compelled [to transgress] amidst ten [Jews] or one is compelled [to transgress merely] amidst gentiles.

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Foundations of Torah, Ch. 4

If you liked that idea of the 4 Elements in the Human Personality, check out:

If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Foundations of Torah, Ch. 3

Is a constantly evolving science at odds with a Torah that is timeless?

Great book on the subject by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt"l:

If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack: theexpressionoflife.com

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Foundations of Torah, Ch. 2, Halacha 1

What are the two fundamental forces of every relationship?

Love

and

Fear.

What are they exactly?

Here are the Rambam's words:

What is the path [to attain] love and fear of Him? When a person contemplates His wondrous and great deeds and creations and appreciates His infinite wisdom that surpasses all comparison, he will immediately love, praise, and glorify [Him], yearning with tremendous desire to know [God's] great name, as David stated: "My soul thirsts for the Master of All the Forces of Universe, for the living God" [Psalms 42:3].

When he [continues] to reflect on these same matters, he will immediately recoil in awe and fear, appreciating how he is a tiny, lowly, and dark creature, standing with his flimsy, limited, wisdom before He who is of perfect knowledge, as David stated: "When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers... [I wonder] what is man that You should recall Him" [Psalms 8:4-5].

Check out my Substack for more: https://www.theexpressionoflife.com/

Based on Mishnah Torah I: Book of Knowledge, the Laws of Foundations of Torah, Ch. 1, Halacha 1

What is the cornerstone of all Jewish thought and practice? It's not simply that you have to believe in God...and by the way, God created the universe. Judaism is literally built on the notion that we can come to know directly through our own awareness, intellect, and consciousness that our existence exists within an encompassing Existence of a different order, which we can't describe with words other than by saying that our existence emerges from It. "It" is too sterile of a pronoun, so we say "Him" (and sometimes "Her," believe it or not).

Rabbi Moshe Gersht, "Does God Exist?"

Rabbi David Aaron Videos:

Check out my Substack for more: https://www.theexpressionoflife.com/

Jews and Judaism have been around for over three millennia and has survived the winds of assimilation, the fires of persecution, and the earthquakes of scientific and technological revolutions. It stands to reason that it holds keys to human survival, flourishing and creativity.

This begs the question: why don't more people think to take a closer look at Jewish wisdom to enrich their lives?

Join us as we embark on a journey to explore Jewish wisdom on every topic under the sun and every area of human life by following the well-worn trail blazed by Maimonides, known in Hebrew as "the Rambam." We'll be on pace with the Mishneh Torah chapter-a-day program which aims to cover the entirety of practical Torah law in a three year cycle.

You can download a pretty cool, free app to follow along with the program here:

It's a hike, a climb, a journey which if we take one step at a time, will reveal vistas we never could have imagined.

If you want to read some of my writing, check out my Substack:

theexpressionoflife.com