Rabbi Heschel Greenberg has launched a new series of classes on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah in response to the Rebbe’s call to learn at least one halacha in depth.
The Rebbe initiated a major effort to unite all Jews with the study of the entire encyclopedic work, Mishneh Torah, by learning three chapters a day and completing the entire work in less than a year. Alternatively, one can learn one chapter and complete the entire Mishneh Torah in close to three years. The Rebbe also gave a third option to study Maimonides’ companion work, Sefer Hamitzvos that parallel the Mishneh Torah.
In addition, the Rebbe requested that we learn one halacha in depth.
We recently began the 44nd cycle of Mishneh Torah which inspired Rabbi Greenberg to record brief classes on selected passages of the Mishneh Torah.
Rabbi Heschel Greenberg is a shliach of the Rebbe in Buffalo NY and the Director of the Jewish Discovery Center, and, for the past 50 years, has taught thousands of classes on all aspects of Jewish knowledge.
Rabbi Greenberg has also authored dozens of works on diverse subjects including several volumes of commentary on the Mishneh Torah.
Many of Rabbi Greenberg’s classes can be accessed on his website rabbigreenberg.com.
In this episode of “Rambam In-Depth,” we analyze Maimonides’ ruling on charoset, the symbolic Passover food. We explore the contradiction between his Mishneh Torah defining charoset as a rabbinic commandment and his Commentary on the Mishnah suggesting otherwise. Through analysis of Talmudic sources and later commentaries, we unravel why charoset doesn’t require its own blessing despite being a mitzvah. The resolution, from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev’s son, reveals how charoset’s symbolic interpretation—representing either slavery’s mortar or freedom’s apple trees—affects its halachic status. This exploration offers insights into symbolism and observance that will enhance your Passover experience.
