• Knowledge is power -- G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Moshe ben Maimon, called Moses Maimonides and also known as RaMBaM (רמב"ם – Hebrew acronym for "Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon"), was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher, and one of the most prolific and followed Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages. He was born in Córdoba, Almoravid Empire (present-day Spain) on Passover Eve, 1135, and died in Egypt on 20th Tevet, December 12, 1204. He was a rabbi, personal physician to the Sultan and philosopher, in Morocco and Egypt and was buried in Tiberius Israel.

One of the greatest works of Maimonides, actually one of the greatest philosophic works of all time is his “Guide for the Perplexed” and his 14 volume Magnum opus work on Jewish Law, “The Strong Hand”, Mishneh Torah.

The following, are life lessons, taken directly from the words of this great scholar and spiritual giant. These are teachings that are extraordinary and are unparalleled by anything contemporary. These are the ultimate words of excellent counsel and guidance.
  • How to pray? Who needs to pray?
    First ….praise, then…. petition, finally….praise and thanks.

……this commandment (to pray ) obligates each person to offer supplication and prayer every day and utter praises of the Holy One, blessed be He; then petition for all his needs with requests and supplications; and finally, give praise and thanks to God for the goodness that He has bestowed upon him; each one according to his own ability.

A person who was eloquent would offer many prayers and requests. [Conversely,] a person who was inarticulate would speak as well as he could and whenever he desired. Similarly, the number of prayers was dependent on each person's ability. Some would pray once daily; others several times………..
  • Recording a person without his knowledge is
    inadmissible in court.
  • People don’t always state the accurate facts of truth.

….As mentioned, witnesses who are hidden cannot give binding testimony, and similarly, when a person admits a debt on his own initiative while witnesses are listening, or a person tells a colleague in the presence of witnesses: "You owe me a dollar" and the colleague admits the obligation, the testimony of the witnesses is not significant. Nevertheless, in all these situations, when the principals come to the court, we tell the defendant: "Why don't you pay the debt you owe him?"

If he says: "I do not owe him anything, we tell him: "Behold you made a statement saying this-and-this in the presence of these individuals," or "You admitted the obligation on your own initiative." If he arises and makes restitution, that is desirable. If he does not offer a defense, we do not suggest one for him. If, however, he claims: "I was speaking frivolously with him," "The event never occurred," or "I did not want to appear wealthy," he is not liable ….. as we have explained in the previous law. (Unless a person is deliberately making a statement before witnesses, people will exaggerate or understate for many ulterior motives)
  • Those who can rebuke and don’t…..
    take part of the blame for the offences of others.

……. One who sees his son becoming associated with evil influences and refrains from rebuking him. Since his son is under his authority, were he to rebuke him, he would have separated himself [from these influences]. Hence, [by refraining from admonishing him, it is considered]
as if he caused him to sin.

Included in this sin are also all those who have the potential to rebuke others, whether an individual or a group, and refrain from doing so, leaving them to their shortcomings.
  • Idleness leads to lewdness….

……Even when her husband is very wealthy and even when the woman has several maids, she may not sit idle, without work. For idleness leads to lewdness. [Her husband] may not, however, compel her to work for the entire day. Instead, according to the extent of his wealth, her obligation to work is minimized.

…….When a man takes a vow that prevents his wife from doing any work at all, he is obligated to divorce her and pay her [the money due her by virtue of her] ketubah/marriage contract. [The rationale is that] idleness leads to lewdness.

  • Husband and wife are ONE entity…….Legally and spiritually.

…………Whenever a person is disqualified from testifying on behalf of a woman, he is also disqualified from testifying on behalf of her husband, for a husband is considered like his wife. Conversely, whenever a person is disqualified from testifying on behalf of a man, he is also disqualified from testifying on behalf of his wife, for a wife is considered like her husband.