Mishneh Torah of the Rambam: Difference between revisions

'''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.

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.

'''Sefer HaMada''' (ספר המדע):

* Hilchot Melachim U'Milchamoteihem

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

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."

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..."

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

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

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

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.

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

== Rambam La'am ==

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.

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.

* Sefer HaMitzvos - parallel to three chapters track

== Marei Mekomos ==