Guiding the Perplexed

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 10, Part 1, Chapters 3,4 & 5

Maimonides discusses how a Rationalist can "see God".

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 9, Part 1 Chapter 2

We read how Maimonides interprets the sin of the tree of knowledge.

Guide for the Perplexed - Lecture 8, Part 1 Chapter 1

We begin the text of the Moreh Nevuchim and read the Rambam's exlanation of the meaning of the Hebrew terms Tzelem, Demut, and To'ar.

Guide for the Perplexed - Lecture 7, Introduction Part 6

We review Maimonides instructions on how to study this book, and the seven categories of contradictions.

Guide for the Perplexed - Lecture 5, Introduction Part 4

We continue the study of Maimonides' introduction to the Guide. Here he describes why he decided not to write an organized book explaining all the "parables" of the prophets and the Rabbis and instead wrote a book in this form.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 4, Introduction Part 3

Maimonides explains why the Torah did not explicitly teach the divine sciences and physical sciences directly. Instead the Torah chose to describe it in parables and hints.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 3, Introduction Part 2

We continue Maimonides' introduction with a discussion of the two primary aspects of knowledge in the Torah, Ma'aseh Bereishit - Science, and Ma'aseh Merkavah - metaphysics.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 2, Introduction Part 1

We begin Maimonides' introduction to his classic work. He describes different categories of terms that are used by the prophets and how they can be interpreted. He then describes how confusing it can be for an educated person when what he reads in the prophets contradicts what he knows to be true. Maimonides tells us that he wrote this book in order to help people out of this perplexing dilemma.

Guide for the Perplexed - Lecture 1 Introductory Letter

This is the first lecture in our series studying Maimonides classic work, the Guide For the Perplexed. In it we introduce the book and read his letter to his student Rabbi Joseph.