???? ???? Mishneh Torah

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???? ????Mishneh Torah

• Rambams Halakhic Magnum Opus
• 1166-1176

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Innovations of Mishneh Torah

• Language Hebrew
• Comprehensive
• Included philosophy
• Only states conclusions
• No citations of sources
• Uses Talmud Yerushalmi
• New arrangement into 14 divisions
• Replacement for Talmud!

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Motives for Writing Mishneh Torah

• 1. Historical Motive A response to contemporary
  need pressing times
• (Introduction to Mishneh Torah)
• 2. Systematic Law Book
• (Letter to Joseph)
• 3. To incorporate Philosophy into Halakha
• (Letter on Resurrection)

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Relationship to the Talmud
Mishneh Torah is
Replacement for Talmud (Letter to Joseph)
Summary for beginners (Letter to R. Pineheas)
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Mishneh Torah Combines Philosophy with Halakha

• And we intended thereby that those who are
  called Scholars or Geonim, or whatever you wish
  to call them, should build their branches on
  Talmudic roots and that they should not cast the
  knowledge of God behind them. -Letter on
  Ressurection
• I am most zealous for the Lord God of Israel,
  when I see before me a nation that does not have
  a comprehensive book of laws in the true sense
  nor true and accurate theological opinions.