Mastodawn

Maimonides Apr 1, 2025

It is a positive commandment of the Torah to relate the miracles and wonders wrought for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the 15th of Nissan, as it is written (Exodus 13:3): "Remember this day when you left Egypt," similar to the obligation (Exodus 20:8): "Remember the Sabbath day."

How do we know this is on the night of the 15th? This is taught by the words (Exodus 13:8): "And you shall tell your child on that day, saying: 'It is because of this..." which indicate it is to be done at the time when matzah and marror are placed before you.

This mitzvah applies even when one does not have a child to tell. Even wise sages who know it well are obligated to tell about the Exodus from Egypt. Whoever elaborates upon the events which transpired is worthy of praise.

(Mishneh Torah, Chametz and Matzah 7:1)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Passover #Pesach #Exodus #Seder #Haggadah

Maimonides Mar 27, 2025

It is a postiive commandment of the Torah to eat matzah on the night of the fifteenth of Nissan, as it is written (Exodus 12:18): "In the evening, you shall eat matzot." This applies in every place and time. ...
The early sages would starve themselves on the day before Passover in order to eat the matzah with an appetite and make the mitzvot precious.
(Mishneh Torah, Chametz and Matzah 6:1-12)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Passover #Pesach #Matzah

Maimonides Mar 14, 2025

Although memories of the suffering endured by our people will one day be nullified, as Isaiah (65:16) prophesied: "For the former suffering will be forgotten and for they will be hidden from My eye," the celebration of Purim will never be nullified, as it is written (Esther 9:28): "And these days of Purim will not pass from among the Jews, nor will their remembrance cease from their descendants."
(Mishneh Torah, Megillah and Chanukah 2:17)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Purim

Maimonides Mar 12, 2025

It is better to increase in gifts to the poor than to increase the size of the Purim feast or food portions sent to friends. For there is no greater and more splendid joy than to gladden the hearts of the poor, the orphans, the widows, and the converts. One who gladdens the hearts of the downtrodden resembles the Divine Presence, which Isaiah (57:15) describes as always there "to revive the spirit of the lowly and the broken hearted."
(Mishneh Torah, Megillah and Chanukah 2:17)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Purim #charity

Maimonides Mar 12, 2025

Maimonides Dec 13, 2022

The entire Jewish people and all those who ally with them are as brothers, as it is written, (Deuteronomy 14:1) "You are all children of God your Lord." And if brother will not show mercy to brother, who will show mercy to them?
(Mishneh Torah, Charity 10:2)

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Maimonides Dec 6, 2023

@doug Indeed, it was written in Judeo-Arabic, and on the third line it may be instructing that the drink be taken "for vomiting" rather than "to vomit" (lilqay' could mean either in Arabic). This would suggest it was a cure for nausea rather than an emetic, as lemon is known to help relieve nausea and the water and sugar may have been added to prevent the citric acid from acting as an irritant. Lemon balm, mint, apple cider vinegar, and honey are also known to relieve indigestion.
https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/api/core/bitstreams/24e42d50-8002-4325-bd66-84c0d6669816/content

Maimonides Dec 6, 2023

A prescription for lemonade.
#Maimonides #lemonade

Maimonides Dec 1, 2023

How many candles do we light on Chanukah? The mitzvah is that each household light one candle, regardless of whether it contains many people or only one. One who wishes to beautify the mitzvah lights a candle for every member of the household, both men and women.
One who wishes to beautify further and do the mitzvah in the finest manner lights one candle for each individual on the first night, and adds an additional candle on each of the subsequent nights.
(Mishneh Torah, Megillah and Chanukah 4:1)
#Maimonides #Chanukah #Menorah

Maimonides Nov 23, 2023

If a teacher does not follow a proper path, even if they are very wise and the entire nation depends upon them, do not study from them until they improve, as it states (Malachi 2:7): "For a priest's lips perpetuate knowledge; seek Torah from his mouth, because he is a messenger of the Lord of Hosts." The sages explained: If a teacher resembles "a messenger of the Lord of Hosts," seek Torah from his mouth; if not, do not seek Torah from his mouth.
(Mishneh Torah, Torah Study 4:1)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Torah

Maimonides Nov 15, 2023

When the Jewish people defeated their enemies, it was the 25th of Kislev. They entered the sanctuary of the Temple, but could only find one jar of pure olive oil there, and it only had enough to light for one day. They lit the lamps of the Menorah from it for eight days, until they had crushed olives and produced more pure oil. Therefore, the sages of that generation established that the eight days beginning on the 25th of Kislev be days of celebration and praise. We light lamps in the evening at the entrance of the house on each of the eight nights to publicize the miracle. These days are called Chanukah.
(Mishneh Torah, Megillah and Chanukah 3:3)
#Maimonides #MishnehTorah #Chanukah