Rambam Bekius

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 14 minutes 3 seconds Synopsis: We begin our learning of Hilchos Tefilah with the Rambam's formulation of the mitzvah in the Sefer ha'Mitzvos. Right away we are confronted with an anomaly: according to one of the rules set forth by the Rambam in the introduction to the Sefer ha'Mitzvos, this shouldn't be counted...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 13 minutes 13 seconds Synopsis: The Rambam urged his student, R' Yosef, to "make [the Mishneh Torah] your book par excellence." In this episode, I share the methodology I was taught by one of my Rambam rabbeim for how to do that. This methodology will serve as the blueprint for how we approach Hilchos Tefilah tomorro...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 11 minutes 31 seconds Synopsis: Before we start learning Hilchos Tefilah, I'd like to review two pillars of my Mishneh Torah methodology. Today we'll discuss how the Rambam intended for his magnum opus to be read, and tomorrow I'll share how one of my own Rambam mentors advised me to master the Mishneh Torah. ----- T...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 17 minutes 55 seconds Synopsis: Welcome BACK to the Rambam Bekius Podcast! In this inaugural episode, I discuss what we mean by "Rambam Bekius," what our goals are for this podcast, and what the format will be. Whether you're a new or returning listener, be sure to check out this episode before proceeding. In the nex...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of audio: 47 minutes Synopsis: Have you been what I'll be up to this coming year?  Have you heard me allude to a MAJOR update that I said I'd announce about my professional life in the near future? Are you aware of one of these updates, but not the other? Well, if none of this interests you, then by all means, feel free to...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 24 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (6/8/23), in our last Rambam Bekius mini-shiur (ever?), we read Rambam's answer to the question: "If the purpose of human beings is to perfect ourselves, in knowledge and in action, what is the purpose of all those people who are not involved in perfecting themselves?" After offeri...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 42 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (6/7/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we FINALLY got to the part where the Rambam talks about the purpose of the human species. We read through his main answer, encountering a few questions and problems along the way. Tomorrow (בג"ה), in our last Rambam Bekius shiur of the season, we&ap...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 25 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (6/5/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we INTENDED to learn the Rambam's interpretation of the midrashic statement, "The only thing Ha'Kadosh Baruch Hu has in this world is the four cubits of halacha alone" (Berachos 8a). But we decided to start earlier to get some context...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 19 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (6/1/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we finished the shiur on Chukos ha'Goyim, answering all the questions that were raised, and walking away with a newfound appreciation for the Torah's war against avodah zarah! ----- מקורות: למקדח ולמחרוז במשנה תורה להרמב"ם - חוקות הגוים רמ...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 30 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/31/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we continued in the Kuntress shiur we started yesterday, and took the first step in answering our questions. This involved a BIG idea, and there's a lot more to flesh out, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow (בג"ה). ----- מקורות: למקדח...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 21 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/30/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we continued in the Kuntress shiur we started yesterday, getting through all the questions - some major and some minor. Tomorrow, after a brief review, we'll begin the answers/ideas! ----- מקורות: למקדח ולמחרוז במשנה תורה להרמב"ם - חוקות הגוים...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 28 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/29/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we began learning through another shiur in The Kuntress. We chose to do the shiur on Chukos ha'Goyim because Rambam Yomi began Hilchos Avodah Zarah today. We got through the first two questions in the shiur because we ended up doing all the sources...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 45 minutes Synopsis: This morning (5/25/23), in lieu of a Mishlei shiur, we learned through the first shiur in The Kuntress, which is about the order of mitzvos in the Sefer ha'Mitzvos vs. their order in the Mishneh Torah. We figured this would be a good topic to take up on Erev Shavuos - and it was! ----- מקורות: למקדח ולמחרו...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 37 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/24/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, on the day before Erev Shavuos, we decided to learn through the Rambam's tshuvah on the question of whether one should stand when the Aseres ha'Dibros are being read during Krias ha'Torah. After reading his answer (spoiler alert: it'...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 19 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/23/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we completed this year's learn-through of the halachos of tzedakah. The final halachos discussed the various sides of dependency on tzedakah: when it's bad, when it's necessary, and how to tell the difference. בריך רחמנא דסיען ----- מקורו...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 19 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/22/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we returned to Hilchos Matnos Aniyim Chapter 10 after a three month (!) hiatus. Today learned the halachos about supporting your children, your parents, and your other relatives - and, most importantly, the poor, whom you should treat as members of your...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 17 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/18/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we finished learning about the king's prohibitions and privileges in chapter 3. Although there's another chapter which is part of this topic, we're going to go back to Hilchos Matnos Aniyim and complete it - hopefully before Shavuos! (בג&...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 15 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/16/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we continued with the halachos of kings, learning about the three lo taasehs stated in the Torah, and the positive injunction about what a king SHOULD occupy himself with. Tomorrow we'll aim to finish the chapter (בג"ה). ----- מקורות: תשובות ר...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 22 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/15/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we wrapped up (I think?) the sugya of the king's mitzvah to write a second sefer Torah for himself, in addition to the one he had as a civilian. There were a few questions we weren't able to answer, but such is the nature of Rambam Bekius! We...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 30 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/11/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we reviewed and wrapped up the Aruch ha'Shulchan from yesterday, then read the first couple halachos in the Rambam about the mitzvos of writing a Sefer Torah, then we finished reading the Torah Temimah we started, who raised OUR question but then g...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 26 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/10/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we went on a fun detour (from our already fun detour). We planned to learn about the mitzvos unique to a king, the first of which is to write a second Sefer Torah for himself. First, we had to learn about the mitzvah for EVERY Jewish male to write a Sef...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 22 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/9/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we learned the chapter in the Mishneh Torah about the halachos of celebrating Lag ba'Omer. The Rambam's shitah about the size of the bonfire ... HA! GOTCHU! We continued on in the halachos about honoring a king - but first, we read the psak of...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 18 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/4/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we began with a discourse from the honorable Dutchman Monarchist, Yoel Schaper, who helped us to understand the rationale behind hereditary positions of leadership. We then read the first few halachos about honoring a king, which (בג"ה) we will cont...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 21 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/3/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we continued learning the halachos in the first perek of Hilchos Melachim u'Milchamos. First we learned through the remaining halachos about who may be apointed, and then we learned the halachos about anointing a king, and how the malchus is passed...

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 18 minutes Synopsis: This afternoon (5/2/23), in our Rambam Bekius mini-shiur, we took up a rather timely topic: the halachos of appointing a king. (Timely because the coronation of King Charles III will take place this weekend.) We learned through the first few halachos about the mechayev (ugh that word looks horrible when transli...