Knowledge is Power - G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.
Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, the Rambam or as he is known -Maimonides, was an incredible giant not only in his time but also for all generations. He wrote over twenty books on medicine alone and was a recognized scientist and scholar by people of all faiths. Because the Rambam was considered as influenced by Aristotle and Greek philosophy, the Rambam is considered a rationalist, sometimes to the point of being against anything not logical.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and the following is one example from the actual words of his encyclopedia of Bible laws, Mishneh Torah.
On the Sabbath it is forbidden to carry anything from a public domain to a private domain or vice versa, unless it is a garment or jewelry.
Says the Rambam.
.......“One may go out [wearing] an amulet that has proven its efficacy. What is an amulet that has proven its efficacy? [An amulet] that has cured three individuals or that was prepared by an individual who cured three people with other amulets.”.......
Rabbi Shnuer Zalman states, that a human being has angels and spiritual forces that will assist his recovery, and an animal lacks these, therefore an amulet that has proven successful for a human being may not be successful in the case of an animal and consequently, the amulet used by a human need not be as powerful.
These laws with their explanations, and the spokespeople for these rules, speak volumes.
The Rambam accepted the truth, that through the forces and energies of the Hebrew letters, gathered by the mystics, inside an amulet, people and animals could be actually affected and influenced for the good.
While the Rambam emphasized the importance of using one’s mind to its fullest capacity, he understood well, the power and truth in what can be experienced with faith.
One who focuses his heart on purifying himself becomes purified once he immerses, even though there was no change in his body. Similarly, one who focuses his heart on purifying his soul from the impurities of the soul, which are wicked thoughts and bad character traits, becomes purified when he (fully and totally) resolves within his heart to distance himself from such counsel, and immerse his soul in the waters of (G-dly and Torah) knowledge. And Ezekiel 36:25 states: "I will pour over you PURE water and you will be purified.”..........
Do not give illegal…unhealthy… bad advice even to a bad person……………….
……..it is forbidden to sell to a robber, for by doing so one reinforces a transgressor and causes him to sin.
Similarly, anyone who causes a person who is blind with regard to a certain matter to stumble and gives him improper advice, or who reinforces a transgressor - who is spiritually blind, for he does not see the path of truth, because of the desires of his heart - transgresses a negative commandment, as Leviticus 19:14 states: "Do not place an obstacle in front of a blind man." When a person comes to ask advice from you, give him proper counsel. ……….
He must never return to a position of honor in the community.
.......When a killer returns to his city after the death of the High Priest, he is considered to be an ordinary citizen……. Although the killer has gained atonement, he should never return to a position of authority that he previously held. Instead, he should be diminished in stature for his entire life, because of this great calamity (the unintentional death) that he caused. .........
Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, the Rambam or as he is known -Maimonides, was an incredible giant not only in his time but also for all generations. He wrote over twenty books on medicine alone and was a recognized scientist and scholar by people of all faiths. Because the Rambam was considered as influenced by Aristotle and Greek philosophy, the Rambam is considered a rationalist, sometimes to the point of being against anything not logical.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and the following is one example from the actual words of his encyclopedia of Bible laws, Mishneh Torah.
On the Sabbath it is forbidden to carry anything from a public domain to a private domain or vice versa, unless it is a garment or jewelry.
Says the Rambam.
.......“One may go out [wearing] an amulet that has proven its efficacy. What is an amulet that has proven its efficacy? [An amulet] that has cured three individuals or that was prepared by an individual who cured three people with other amulets.”.......
Rabbi Shnuer Zalman states, that a human being has angels and spiritual forces that will assist his recovery, and an animal lacks these, therefore an amulet that has proven successful for a human being may not be successful in the case of an animal and consequently, the amulet used by a human need not be as powerful.
These laws with their explanations, and the spokespeople for these rules, speak volumes.
The Rambam accepted the truth, that through the forces and energies of the Hebrew letters, gathered by the mystics, inside an amulet, people and animals could be actually affected and influenced for the good.
While the Rambam emphasized the importance of using one’s mind to its fullest capacity, he understood well, the power and truth in what can be experienced with faith.
Although not much changes physically, the power of the mind and the resolve to change, has the power to transforms a person ……
And now again to the actual words of the Rambam.
..........It is a clear and an apparent matter that the concepts of purity and impurity are Scriptural decrees and they are not matters determined by a person's understanding, and they are included in the category of chukim. (Laws which are beyond logic) Similarly, immersion in a Mikvah (a ritual pool) to ascend from impurity is included in the category of chukim, because impurity is not mud or filth that can be washed away with water. Instead, the immersion is a Scriptural decree and requires the focusing the intent of one's heart.
Therefore, our Sages said: When one immersed, but did not intend to purify himself," it is as if he did not immerse.”
Although it is a Scriptural decree, there is a suggestion (and a lesson) involved:
And now again to the actual words of the Rambam.
..........It is a clear and an apparent matter that the concepts of purity and impurity are Scriptural decrees and they are not matters determined by a person's understanding, and they are included in the category of chukim. (Laws which are beyond logic) Similarly, immersion in a Mikvah (a ritual pool) to ascend from impurity is included in the category of chukim, because impurity is not mud or filth that can be washed away with water. Instead, the immersion is a Scriptural decree and requires the focusing the intent of one's heart.
Therefore, our Sages said: When one immersed, but did not intend to purify himself," it is as if he did not immerse.”
Although it is a Scriptural decree, there is a suggestion (and a lesson) involved:
One who focuses his heart on purifying himself becomes purified once he immerses, even though there was no change in his body. Similarly, one who focuses his heart on purifying his soul from the impurities of the soul, which are wicked thoughts and bad character traits, becomes purified when he (fully and totally) resolves within his heart to distance himself from such counsel, and immerse his soul in the waters of (G-dly and Torah) knowledge. And Ezekiel 36:25 states: "I will pour over you PURE water and you will be purified.”..........
……..it is forbidden to sell to a robber, for by doing so one reinforces a transgressor and causes him to sin.
Similarly, anyone who causes a person who is blind with regard to a certain matter to stumble and gives him improper advice, or who reinforces a transgressor - who is spiritually blind, for he does not see the path of truth, because of the desires of his heart - transgresses a negative commandment, as Leviticus 19:14 states: "Do not place an obstacle in front of a blind man." When a person comes to ask advice from you, give him proper counsel. ……….
He must never return to a position of honor in the community.
.......When a killer returns to his city after the death of the High Priest, he is considered to be an ordinary citizen……. Although the killer has gained atonement, he should never return to a position of authority that he previously held. Instead, he should be diminished in stature for his entire life, because of this great calamity (the unintentional death) that he caused. .........
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