Description
-
Individual lectures:
-
The Rambam's Life and Times - The Rambam's early life was indelibly marked by one of the tragic turns of Jewish history. Born in the Golden Age of Spain, when Jews enjoyed nearly equal rights with their Moslem rulers, his peaceful world was abruptly interrupted by the fanatic Almohad Rebellion which forced his family to flee to Spain. Rabbi Wein paints the backdrop of the rise and fall of Jews in Moslem Spain and shows the Rambam's place within it: the son of a prominent Jew whose life and education took on a different color forever after.
-
Background and Civilization - On the run from the Almohads, the Rambam's family ultimately settled in Fostat, Egypt, where the Karaites dominated the Jewish community. The Karaites rejected the Oral Torah and forbade the use of medical doctors, a philosophy that was both spiritually and physically destroying the Jewish people. Armed with his Torah scholarship and knowledge of medicine, the Rambam fought to re-educate the Jews and wrote the great body of work that eradicated the Karaite and Islamic influences.
-
Mishnah Torah - When the Rambam saw how Jewish life was deteriorating under the pressures of the exile, he created the Mishnah Torah as a guide to Jewish Law and philosophy. With his rigorous defense of human free will, and his distinct, "unmiraculous" view of the Messianic era, the Rambam was roundly criticized by many of his contemporaries. Though he did not back down on any philosophical issue, he acknowledged his error in omitting citations in his book. Rabbi Wein recounts the incident in which the Rambam came to this conclusion and points out the irony that his "book to end all books" has spawned thousands of commentaries since.
-
Controversy Surrounding the Rambam - Innovators in Jewish thought always meet with opposition, and this was certainly true for the Rambam. While some of his critics kept their disagreements on a purely intellectual level, others took it upon themselves to besmirch him. Rabbi Wein details both types of battles and citing the Rambam's personal letters, captures his admirable ability to stay above the fray.
-
Rambam and His World - Leaders must always be seen in the context of the times in which they live because their worldviews are shaped by the problems they resolve in their societies. Though the Rambam was criticized for writing "Jewish philosophy, " for him they were necessary tools to fight the religious threats of the day: the Karaites, rising secularism, and forced conversion to Islam.
-
Moreh Nevuchim - "The Guide to the Perplexed" is the most controversial of all the Rambam's books. Intended for Torah scholars rather than the masses, it tackles such philosophical challenges as free will and predestination, the role of allegory in the Talmud, the reasons for the mitzvos, and why bad things happen to good people. Rabbi Wein touches on each of these, giving us a glimpse into this monumental work that was banned and burned in its time.
-
Igerei Teiman - Amongst the communities that reached out for the Rambam's help and guidance were the Jews of Yemen who lived under oppressive fundamenTallist Moslems. From the outside, they were given the choice of conversion or death, and from within the Jewish community, a false messiah began to promote himself as the person who could deliver the Jews from their sorrows. With a letter that became the precursor to his later philosophical writings, the Rambam laid out the foundations of the Jewish faith that became the lifeline that saved the Yemenite Jews from total destruction.
-
Medical Life - The Rambam always took the rationalist approach in Torah, and he was precisely the same way in his practice of medicine. While the rest of the world was steeped in superstition, he advocated common sense preventative medicine, such as sensible diet, sleep, and cleanliness, and was even the first observer of the affect of mental health on overall health. Rabbi Wein reviews the medical advice contained in the Rambam's personal letters and uncovers his fascinating but taxing years as court physician to the Sultan.
SKU: | RWC-S650D |
---|---|
Format: | CD |
Artist: | Rabbi Berel Wein |
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
Refund Policy
JudaicaPlaza.com Return Policy:
All items in new condition may be returned for refund, exchange, or store credit within fifteen (15) days of date of purchase. No refunds or exchanges will be given after the fifteen (15) days. Orders made on JudaicaPlaza.com may be returned to Judaica Plaza at 1700 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701. Customers may also request a return label via UPS or USPS. Please note, the cost of shipping a return will be deducted from the refund.
All gifts that wish to be returned will be refunded in the form of store credit. If a customer requests to return a gift via UPS or USPS, the cost of shipping will be deducted from their store credit.
Shipping costs are NON-REFUNDABLE
Special Merchandise Return Guidelines:
Media and factory sealed products:
All media products or factory sealed products (including but not limited to: Cassettes, DVD’s, CD’s, CD-ROM, MP3, VHS, USB, Software, ETC.) are non-refundable or exchangeable once opened or used.
Seforim:
All Seforim returns or exchanges must be authorized by the Seforim Department prior to return. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. This is to ensure that the Seforim that are being returned are intact and sellable.
Seasonal Products:
All seasonal products may not be returned however, may be exchanged beginning three (3) days prior to the nearest Yom Tov. After the Yom Tov, there will be no returns or exchanges. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS! Products from previous seasons and holidays will also not be excepted for return or exchange. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!
Mezuzahs:
All Mezuzahs (Parchment) are final sale. No returns or exchanges are allowed.
Damaged or Defective Merchandise:
All damaged or defective merchandise must be returned to Judaica Plaza within fifteen (15) days of purchase. If merchandise cannot be returned within fifteen (15) days, notice must be sent to the Web Department via email: Web@JudaicaPlaza.com. No damaged or defective merchendise will be accepted after fifteen (15) days of purchase if no notice is received.
Missing Items:
If an item is missing from an order shipment, notice must be sent to Web@JudaicaPlaza.com within three (3) days of receipt.
Special Order Sales:
Items that are ordered according to the customers specifications are NON-REFUNDABLE, RETURNABLE, OR EXCHANGABLE. If a mistake was made, Judaica Plaza will contact the company who made the personalization’s, and it will be up to them whether to issue a refund for the service.
ALL RETURNS OR EXCHANGES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL FROM THE WEBSITE DEPARTMET
Our ultimate goal is to make the best shopping experience for you at JudaicaPlaza.com, and for you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If you receive an item that you are dissatisfied with, do not hesitate to reach out to see what we can do to make it right. We can be reached via email: Web@JudaicaPlaza.com, Phone: 732-942-4500, or come visit us at 1700 Madison Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701.