Coaching from the best - Maimonides - Rambam

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.

Over the gallery doors in the US House of Representatives chambers of Congress are twenty-three marble relief portraits of famous lawgivers, among them —the celebrated Jewish scholar, physician, philosopher, and community leader Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon HaSefaradi.

Though most know him as Maimonides or by the acronym “Rambam,” his full name reminds that he was a Sephardic Jew and a subject of the Almoravid Empire. He was born in Cordoba in 1135 - 1204, which was then part of Muslim Spain; much of his commentary on the Torah and Jewish religious law were written in Arabic or Judeo-Arabic. A prolific scholar, his many works cemented his place one of Judaism’s most important philosophers. Maimonides's insights on Jewish ethics and religious law continue to exert a profound influence upon Judaism today.

The following are some examples of Jewish Law included in Maimonides’ Magnum Opus – Yad Hachazaka - The strong Hand.

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For your own good -- stay away from bad influences in your life.

……According to Rabbinic decree, it is forbidden for a nazirite ( who took an oath not to drink wine) to abide amidst a gathering of people drinking wine. [Instead,] he should separate himself far from them, because they present a hurdle for him. Our Sages said: "Do not come close [even to] the area around the vineyard.'

Nezirut - Chapter 5 Hal. 10

Value your words - Your words should always matter.

…What is the source which teaches that it is forbidden for a person to take even these four types of vows which are permitted with the intent of nullifying them? It is written [Numbers 30:3): "He shall not desecrate his word," i.e., he should not make his word an inconsequential matter.

Nedarim - Chapter 4 Hal. 4

Don’t be faithless. Keep verbal commitments.

When a person agrees to a transaction with a verbal commitment alone, it is appropriate for him to keep his word even though he did not take any money at all, did not make a mark on the article he desired to purchase, nor leave security. If either the seller or the purchaser retracts, although they are not liable to receive the adjuration mi shepara (A curse on one who reneges on an agreement)  they are considered to be faithless, and the spirit of the Sages does not derive satisfaction from them.

Similarly, if a person promised to give a colleague a gift and failed to do so, he is considered to be faithless.

When does the above apply? With regard to a small gift, because the recipient will depend on the promise that he was given. With regard to a large gift, by contrast, the giver is not considered to be faithless if he retracts, because the recipient does not believe that he will give him these articles until he transfers ownership through a formal kinyan.

Mechirah - Chapter Seven Hal 8 – 9

A person cannot release himself from his own oaths.

It is not possible for a person to release himself from his own oath. A person does not have the license to release an oath or a vow in a place where there is a person whose knowledge surpasses his own. In a place where his teacher is found, he may only release a vow with the consent of his teacher.

Shvuot - Chapter 6 Hal. 3

A person can inspect all blemishes except his own.

Everyone can become impure due to tzara'at (A supra-natural bodily affliction often mistranslated as leprosy)  blemishes, even a new-born baby or servants, but not gentiles or resident aliens. Anyone is acceptable to inspect such blemishes. A person can inspect all blemishes except his own.

Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 9 Hal. 1