Namesake school marks Rambam’s 795th yahrzeit

Last Friday marked the yahrzeit of the Rambam who died 795 years ago on the 20th of Teves at the age of 69.  At Rambam Mesivta in Lawrence, an assembly was held to commemorate the life and legacy of the Rambam. Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman spoke to the Talmidim and explained that while it is virtually impossible to truly understand the Rambam’s greatness, we can get glimpses through his writings.

The Rambam wrote many sefarim, among them Perush Mishnayos, Yad haChazakah, Moreh Nevuchim and Shemoneh Perakim. Unfortunately, some of his writings have been lost to history. “These sefarim spanned the breadth of halachah and hashkafah,” shared Rabbi Friedman. who cited some examples of each.

“We are all familiar with the idea of eating shmurah matzoh on Pesach. A careful analysis of the  Rambam leads us to the conclusion that there are two types of shmurah — one watched from the time of harvest, the other which is infused with the intent that it is made specifically for the purpose of the mitzvah of matzoh. Instead of writing this openly, the Rambam expressed it cryptically in a seeming contradiction, forcing us to delve into his teachings, and draw out conclusions using proper methodology,” said Rabbi Friedman.

On the topic of revenge, Rabbi Friedman explored how “when the Rambam speaks about the prohibition of taking revenge, he teaches us that it is wrong to do so because it reflects a distorted value system. We are overestimating and attributing great value to the physical world which is in reality mundane.”

He further stated that the Rambam says that it is best for a Torah scholar to be self-sufficient and not rely on the beneficence of the community. The Rambam teaches us that every aviera ben adam lechavero (violation of interpersonal relationships) is wrong because of the harm that was done to others and is wrong and because about what it shows about the violator’s character.

The Rambam lived in times where Jewish survival faced many challenges, with both physical and spiritual threats to Jews worldwide. The Rambam received letters from far-flung communities seeking his advice, guidance and halachic rulings. “He truly had the weight of world Jewry on his shoulders,” said Rabbi Friedman, who summed up:

“To be able to accomplish so much, under such difficult conditions appears to be super-human and we are privileged to have named the mesivta after him.”