Mishneh Torah of the Rambam

The Rebbe standing at the entrance of the sukkah holding the "Rambam La'am" edition of the Rambam's sefer in his hand.

Mishneh Torah (also known as 'the Yad HaChazaka') is the great work of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, and is a halachic sefer encompassing all the laws of the Torah, including those not practiced today. The sefer is divided into eighty-three topics ("halachos") in fourteen books.

The Rebbe established a daily study schedule in the sefer with the goal of uniting Am Yisroel in the study of Torah SheBaal Peh.

Structure of the Sefer

The sefer consists of fourteen parts, and each part is divided into "Halachos", the Halachos are divided into chapters, and each chapter is divided into "small halachos" (called "halachos").

At the beginning of the sefer, the Rambam wrote an introduction in which he writes about the order of transmission of the mesorah, the need for the sefer, a list of positive and negative mitzvos, and the titles of the books and halachos.

Content of the Sefer

Sefer HaMada (ספר המדע):

• Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah
• Hilchot Deot
• Hilchot Talmud Torah
• Hilchot Avodah Zarah
• Hilchot Teshuvah

Sefer Ahavah (ספר אהבה):

• Hilchot Keriyat Shema
• Hilchot Tefillah
• Hilchot Tefillin
• Hilchot Mezuzah
• Hilchot Sefer Torah
• Hilchot Tzitzit
• Hilchot Berachot
• Hilchot Milah

Sefer Zmanim (ספר זמנים):

• Hilchot Shabbat
• Hilchot Eruvin
• Hilchot Shevitat Asor
• Hilchot Yom Tov
• Hilchot Chametz U'Matzah
• Hilchot Shofar, Sukkah, V'Lulav
• Hilchot Shekalim
• Hilchot Kiddush HaChodesh
• Hilchot Taaniyot
• Hilchot Megillah V'Chanukah

Sefer Nashim (ספר נשים):

• Hilchot Ishut
• Hilchot Girushin
• Hilchot Yibum V'Chalitzah
• Hilchot Na'arah Betulah
• Hilchot Sotah

Sefer Kedushah (ספר קדושה):

• Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah
• Hilchot Maachalot Asurot
• Hilchot Shechitah

Sefer HaPlayah (ספר הפלאה):

• Hilchot Shevuot
• Hilchot Nedarim
• Hilchot Nezirut
• Hilchot Arachin V'Charamim

Sefer Zera'im (ספר זרעים):

• Hilchot Kilayim
• Hilchot Mattanot Aniyim
• Hilchot Terumot
• Hilchot Ma'asrot
• Hilchot Ma'aser Sheni V'Neta Revai
• Hilchot Bikurim
• Hilchot Shemittah V'Yovel

Sefer Avodah (ספר עבודה):

• Hilchot Beit HaBechirah
• Hilchot Kli HaMikdash
• Hilchot Biat HaMikdash
• Hilchot Issurei Mizbeach
• Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot
• Hilchot Tamidim U'Musafin
• Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim
• Hilchot Avodah B'Yom HaKippurim
• Hilchot Me'ilah

Sefer Korbanot (ספר קרבנות):

• Hilchot Korban Pesach
• Hilchot Chagigah
• Hilchot Bechorot
• Hilchot Shegagot
• Hilchot Mechusei Kaparah
• Hilchot Temurah

Sefer Taharah (ספר טהרה):

• Hilchot Tumat Met
• Hilchot Parah Adumah
• Hilchot Tumat Tzara'at
• Hilchot Mitamei Mishkav U'Moshav
• Hilchot She'ar Avot HaTumah
• Hilchot Tumat Ochlin
• Hilchot Kelim
• Hilchot Mikvaot

Sefer Nezikin (ספר נזיקין):

• Hilchot Nezeki Mammon
• Hilchot Geneivah
• Hilchot Gezeilah V'Aveidah
• Hilchot Chovel U'Mazik
• Hilchot Rotzeach V'Shmirat Nefesh

Sefer Kinyan (ספר קניין):

• Hilchot Mechirah
• Hilchot Zechiyah U'Matanah
• Hilchot Shechanim
• Hilchot Shelichin V'Shutafin
• Hilchot Avadim

Sefer Mishpatim (ספר משפטים):

• Hilchot Sechirut
• Hilchot She'eilah U'Pikadon
• Hilchot Loveh V'Malveh
• Hilchot Toehn V'Nitan
• Hilchot Nechalot

Sefer Shoftim (ספר שופטים):

• Hilchot Sanhedrin
• Hilchot Edut
• Hilchot Mamrim
• Hilchot Avel
• Hilchot Melachim U'Milchamoteihem

Its Name

The name of the sefer, Mishneh Torah, was established because it includes the entire Torah SheBaal Peh.

The Raavad and other gedolei Yisroel were concerned about the name of the sefer, from which it appears to be second to the Torah.

For this reason, the additional name of the sefer - the Yad HaChazaka - is more commonly used, referring to the fourteen books included in it, and like the name of the last pasuk in the Torah "and for all the strong hand and all the great awe that Moshe did before the eyes of all Yisroel."

Its Purpose

In the introduction to the work, the Rambam explains the purpose of writing the sefer:

"And in this time additional troubles have increased, and the hour has pressed everyone, and the wisdom of our Sages has been lost, and the understanding of our wise men has been hidden; therefore those interpretations and responses and laws that the Geonim composed, and saw that they were clear matters, have become difficult in our days, and only few in number properly understand their matters... Therefore I girded my loins, I Moses the son of Maimon the Sephardi... and I saw fit to compose clear matters from all these works, regarding what is forbidden and permitted and pure and impure with other laws of the Torah: all in clear language and brief way, until the entire Torah SheBaal Peh will be arranged in everyone's mouth, without question and without solution, and not this one saying thus and this one saying thus, but clear matters close and correct..."

Its Style

The Rambam wrote the sefer in the style of the Mishnah. This style is expressed in several aspects:

A. The order of the Mishnah, as sections, halachos chapters and small halachos.

B. The language of the Mishnah, as he writes in his introduction: "And I saw fit not to compose it in the language of the holy writings... also not in the language of the Talmud... but to compose it in the language of the Mishnah."

C. Not relying on any other sefer, and without citing sources.

Its Sources

The Rambam did not cite his sources in his sefer, but rather brought only decided halacha.

In one of his letters, the Rambam writes about this:

"The righteous dayan came to me with a booklet from the work in his hand, containing hilchos rotzeach from Sefer Nezikin, and showed me one halacha, saying to me: 'Read this.' I read it. I said to him: 'What doubt is there in this?' He said to me: 'In which place were these things said?' I said to him: 'In their place, either in Eilu Hen HaGolin or in Sanhedrin in the laws of a murderer.' He said to me: 'I have already gone through everything and did not find it.' I said to him: 'Perhaps in the Yerushalmi?' He said to me: 'I searched and did not find it, not in the Yerushalmi and not in the Tosefta.' I was astounded for about an hour, and I said to him: 'I remember that in a certain place in Gittin these matters were explained.' I took out Gittin and searched but did not find it. I wondered and was bewildered and said: 'Where were these things said? Leave it now until I remember their place.' He left, and I remembered. I sent a messenger and brought him back, and showed him the matters explicitly explained in the Gemara Yevamos incidentally. He was amazed and left. And so I am always in pain from this, that the questioner will come and ask: 'Where were these things said?'... And if this happened to me, and I am the author, what will happen to other people?"

Later in the letter, the Rambam announces that he decided to cite sources only if the source for the halacha is not in the masechta dealing with the topic, because regarding sources in the masechta dealing with the topic, one who comes to clarify the source of a halacha needs to be expert in the relevant masechtos.

However, despite this, the Rambam did not manage to complete this task.

Opposition to the Sefer

After the sefer was published, several opponents arose, with one of the main arguments of the critics being the fact that the Rambam did not cite the sources on which he relied.

The opponents also feared that the sefer would lead to cessation of Talmud study, because the Rambam writes the final ruling without the give and take that preceded them. Claims also arose about the Rambam bringing only his opinion, without referring to different opinions or rulings that had taken root in different Jewish communities.

Many opponents arose to Sefer HaMada, because of the involvement in matters of faith, which was not accepted then.

Contemporary Editions

Rambam La'am

Rambam La'am is the common edition of the Rambam, published by Mosad HaRav Kook.

The edition is fully vowelized, with commentary in popular style and references to the Rambam's sources.

The Rebbe most often uses this edition.

Kapach Edition

Rabbi Yosef Kapach's edition is composed from ancient Yemenite manuscripts, and is considered one of the accurate editions, since according to them it includes the Rambam's corrections in the later editions of his sefer.

The edition was newly translated by Rabbi Kapach, and includes commentaries on the Rambam's words from Rabbi Kapach and from ancient manuscripts.

The Rebbe greatly encouraged the publication of this edition, and some of the seforim are even dedicated to the Rebbe.

Frankel Edition

Distinguished by comparison to old editions and correction of errors caused by censorship. Includes an index to Mishneh Torah, sources for the Rambam's words and collection of commentaries. Much criticism arose because they omitted many commentators including the Rebbe's explanations. As a result, many Chabad chassidim avoid using this edition.

Additional Editions

• Complete Rambam published by Machon Chazak
• Eshkol Edition - A pocket edition, divided according to the daily study schedule.
• Yad Peshuta Edition - An annotated edition published by Rabbi Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch.
• The Precise Rambam - A precise edition based on ancient manuscripts. Edited by Rabbi Yitzchak Shilat.
• Chazak Edition - A special edition with references to the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe and the Rebbe's sichos.
• The Complete Rambam - A comprehensive edition including commentaries of the Rishonim on each halacha, with the Rebbe's explanations and references. The edition is being prepared by 'The Complete Rambam Institute', headed by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Wolpo.
• Mishneh Torah Project - An edition with added straightforward explanation and illustrations, with great emphasis on finding the original text from the Rambam's manuscript.

The Takanas Limud HaRambam

At the farbrengen of Acharon shel Pesach 5744, the Rebbe initiated daily study of Rambam to unite all Jews in learning the entire Torah SheBaal Peh.

Three study cycles were established:

• Three chapters daily - completing Mishneh Torah in eleven months
• One chapter daily - completing in two years and ten months
• Sefer HaMitzvos - parallel to three chapters track

Books on Mishneh Torah

Marei Mekomos

On 15th of Av 5744 the Rebbe instructed the Kollel Avreichim to publish a reference work on the Yad. Published after two weeks with over 950 pages. Later supplemented with six additional volumes.

Yein Malchus

Collection of the Rebbe's sichos on the Rambam, first published in 5751 in two volumes, later in 5776 in three volumes by Kehot Publication Society.

Hadranim on Shas and Rambam

Contains the Rebbe's Hadranim connected to Rambam completions since 5745, published by Kehot.

Klalei Rambam

Collection of study principles based on the Rebbe's sichos.

Additional Reading

• Rabbi Shalom DovBer Wolff, Learning the Rambam - Hisachdus HaChassidim, 2021