In 2022, Harvard Law School emeritus professor and famed attorney Alan Dershowitz championed the revival of New York’s Maimonides Medical Center. But last week, he turned his sights on Maimonides himself, the illustrious Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (1138–1204), one of Judaism’s towering figures.
On a popular podcast, Dershowitz unleashed a blistering attack, calling the Rambam “very smart, but wrong about everything.” He lambasted the Mishneh Torah as an arrogant bid to supplant the Talmud and quash rabbinic discourse and dismissed the 13 Principles of Faith as dogmatic overreach that suppressed theological debate.
The response was swift and fierce. Jewish voices from Chabad to Litvish, Modern Orthodox, and beyond flooded social media with indignation. Critics branded Dershowitz’s remarks “lazy and uneducated,” accusing him of skimming Wikipedia rather than delving into authentic study. The uproar peaked on X, where the platform’s raw edge amplified calls to defend the Rambam’s legacy—posts racking up thousands of views and replies.
Amid the storm, one Lubavitch voice cut through with the Rebbe’s signature grace. Rabbi Shais Taub, a Chabad shliach in Five Towns, NY and respected Torah scholar, urged Dershowitz to join the daily Rambam study cycles launched by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to unify Klal Yisrael and hasten Moshiach. “Will @AlanDersh commit to learning the daily Rambam and revisit this topic after a year?” Taub asked, highlighting the Rebbe’s vision of making the Mishneh Torah a household staple for Jews of every stripe.
Taub later added a poetic nod: “Hashgacha pratis… today’s Rambam three chapters [deal with the honor of Torah scholars]. We will defend the honor of our great Rabbi, Rabenu Moshe Ben Maimon HaSefardi.”
Rabbi Yossi Pels, Executive Director of the popular weekly Torah journal Chayenu then added:
“Is @AlanDersh willing to subscribe to @ourChayenu to get said Rambam delivered to his door so he can deep dive into Rambam for a year?”
A corollary to that suggestion is, is @AlanDersh willing to subscribe to @ourChayenu to get said Rambam delivered to his door so he can deep dive into Rambam for a year?
— Yossi Pels (@yossipels) November 12, 2025
Dershowitz has owned past misjudgments before. Decades ago, he questioned the Rebbe’s decision to honor Sen. Jesse Helms—a conservative often seen as hostile to Jewish and Israeli interests. At the 2005 Kinus Hashluchim, Dershowitz addressed thousands of emissaries: “The Rebbe was right, and I was wrong.”
Some on X noted that the recent debacle may yet serve a higher purpose: turning a moment of controversy into greater awareness of the Rebbe’s daily Rambam initiative and uniting more of Klal Yisrael around his timeless words. Those interested in joining the thousands who study Rambam daily with clear English translation and commentary can begin at Chayenu.org/subscribe.
Gedolim, rishonim and acharonim, agreed that if you didn’t learn the חלק א’ of the מורה from the Rambam, you have NO knowledge of the G-d of Israel,
א אמונה סתם, ניט א ידיעה.
Sad to hear about him, but he should ponder and reflect on his statements and the output.
הוא לא יצא נקי מזה:
ו”ויתקלסו בו ויאמרו : ” עלה קרח, עלה קרח”
Dershowitz always thinks his the smartest person in the room . He was wrong when he debated Meir Kahane , He now practically espouses everything Kahane said, and certainly ignorant & wrong about the Holy Rambam!!
And he was also wrong in the multiple times he debated our beloved rebbe
He has an opinion that is not popular, so what?
but his not so popular opinion is kefirah
Thank you, Rebbe!
Allan should be banned from speaking at chabad events
He should know better than to say he is smarter than the rambam
Who would have a thought a non-frum person would have non-frum views. If you disagree with him, give him a rational reason why he’s wrong, rather than just attacking him.
Who cares what he has to say?
Didn’t he “defend” the murderer OJ and a Nazi?
This is not new! So many people who never opened a Gemorah criticized Talmud, So many who never learned Chassidus. criticize chassidus and Chassidim. So many who never learned Chumash properly criticize Torah, So what is the wonder that one who has never studied Rambam and doesn,t even come close one millionth of an ounce to the level of Rambam should criticize Rambam. He can join all the many Apikorsim who think they know better but have never opened a sefer in thier life!! The whole concept of bitul is so far from him and many like him that tjey… Read more »