Teves 20 is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, Talmudist, Halachist, physician, philosopher and communal leader, known in the Jewish world by the acronym “Rambam” and to the world at large as “Maimonides”, who passed away in Egypt in 1204.
A recent 7-part series on the life and works of the Rambam starring acclaimed scholar and author, Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet, was produced and aired by Jewish.TV.
The series, entitled Studies in Maimonides, looks at the unique contributions of this larger-than-life figure.
Part 1 of the series starts with a look at the Rambam’s life. Other lessons cover various works of the Rambam, such as Mishneh Torah and The Guide for the Perplexed, while the final lesson in the series deals with some of the controversy and debate surrounding the Rambam’s work.
Schochet has written and lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of Chassidism and topical themes of Jewish thought and ethics. He is rabbi of Cong. Beth Joseph, and professor-emeritus of Philosophy at Humber College, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
VIDEO: Maimonidean Controversy
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You are not (presumably) crazy, but I am definitely NOT with you. Had Rabbi Schochet wanted to, he could have been counted among the “Gedolim” in the Yeshivishe Velt. He is a world class Talmis Chochom, and just because he chose relative obscurity, the rest of us do not have license to refer to him without the proper derech eretz. No matter what the prevailing culture is (“All the great mashpiim were known by their first names”), being mezalzel in the kavod of a Talmis Chochom is a harsh thing. As far as the einiklach are concerned, let ’em have… Read more »
It’s cool that y’all are proud of your Zeide and all that, but honestly, he’s not just your grampa. He’s a relatively famous public figure. Nobody is diminishing his respect by calling him Immanuel. All the great mashpiim were known by their first names. Actually, if anyone is making the rabbi look small, it’s you by posting comments on COL that are more appropriate for a family blog or Facebook.
Am I crazy or is anyone else with me on this?
You are an incredible resource of wisdom and inspiration to all.
Your favorite niece, Batya
Go, Zaidy, you are absolutely correct. If people can’t show a little bit of Derech Eretz, it just shows how shallow they are. (These people should look at what the gemoro Sanhedrin says about people who don’t show proper kovod to Talmidei Chachomom.)
To Rabbi Shochet: words can not begin to describe the great service you are providing to yidden all over. Your presentation is not only informative and entertaining, but I am (and others are) being educated.
Yasher Koach
but he’s Rabbi to all of you so show some respect!!
Don’t be so touchy. He’s Zaidy to you. That’s all that matters to you.
and for those of you who are calling him “immanuel” get with the times-it’s rabbi schochet to you….
They keep getting better and better!
How about more of these series on gedolei yisroel like Rashi and the Maharal miProg?
Was such a pleasure to watch and Learn.
Thank You for producing this series. Thoughtful, interesting video lectures on historic figures and their works by our own modern day scholars.
Thank You to whomever recorded this, and thank you Rabbi Schochet for agreeing to produce this.
I wouldn;t want Immanuel to be my critic either! 🙂
But I hear Immanuel is pro-Rambam. (At least it seems so from the video.)
He should be hosting documentaries on the History Channel.
Ha, Its says video of Rambam responding to criticism and there is Immanuel 🙂