Guiding the Perplexed

Is God "Up" there? Find out what Maimonides has to say. We also continue Maimonides ground breaking understanding of the purpose of sacrifices to God.

Maimonides explains the meaning of the term "Kisseh" - "throne". We begin Maimonides groundbreaking and controversial explanation of the purpose of sacrifices in the worship of God.

We study the meaning of the terms Man, Woman, Giving Birth and Place (Ish, Isha, Yalad, and Makom)

Maimonides discusses how a Rationalist can "see God".

We read how Maimonides interprets the sin of the tree of knowledge.

We begin the text of the Moreh Nevuchim and read the Rambam's exlanation of the meaning of the Hebrew terms Tzelem, Demut, and To'ar.

We review Maimonides instructions on how to study this book, and the seven categories of contradictions.

We continue the study of Maimonides' introduction to the Guide. Here he describes why he decided not to write an organized book explaining all the "parables" of the prophets and the Rabbis and instead wrote a book in this form.

Maimonides explains why the Torah did not explicitly teach the divine sciences and physical sciences directly. Instead the Torah chose to describe it in parables and hints.

We continue Maimonides' introduction with a discussion of the two primary aspects of knowledge in the Torah, Ma'aseh Bereishit - Science, and Ma'aseh Merkavah - metaphysics.

We begin Maimonides' introduction to his classic work. He describes different categories of terms that are used by the prophets and how they can be interpreted. He then describes how confusing it can be for an educated person when what he reads in the prophets contradicts what he knows to be true. Maimonides tells us that he wrote this book in order to help people out of this perplexing dilemma.

This is the first lecture in our series studying Maimonides classic work, the Guide For the Perplexed. In it we introduce the book and read his letter to his student Rabbi Joseph.