Mishneh Torah, The Book of Knowledge: Principles of the Torah

The Mishneh Torah (Repetition of the Law) is a monumental code summarizing the entirety of Jewish law. Written by Maimonides in elegant, concise Hebrew, it was organized according to topical categories, as opposed to the order of the appearance of the laws in the Talmud. These excerpts from the first book, The Book of Knowledge (Sefer ha-mada‘), typify the philosophical and ethical themes that are integrated into this complex work. The positions that Maimonides presents integrate both rabbinic and Aristotelian perspectives and reflect his efforts to integrate law and speculative reasoning. The first passages, drawn from the section titled “Laws Concerning the Basic Principles of the Torah,” summarize much of contemporary Arabic philosophical tradition, address biblical anthropomorphisms, and reflect Maimonides’ suggestions for love of the divine. The second passages, drawn from “Laws Relating to Moral Dispositions and to Ethical Conduct,” offer guidance for the cultivation of ethical conduct and medically appropriate behaviors.