A Soulful Journey

"It is not enough just to know laws.  One must strive to perform them and understand them."  - Rambam It is a vital that we open our minds to fathom the "whys" of life.    As Socrates uttered, "an unexamined life is not worth living."  This is profoundly true with Torah.

“Moshe, tell me who does everyone speak so highly of?  Rambam? What if did write the Kuzari?  Does that make him so great?” “The Kuzari?  Rambam did not write that.  Yehudah HaLevi did.” “Ah! He didn’t even write the Kuzari?  See what I mean?” When a person is convinced they are correct nothing will convince them.   Moral: Never be so sure of yourself that you will close your mind.

It is a mitzvah to pray every day ….   Said the sages, “What does avodat ha-lev (sacrifices of the heart) mean?”   This is the Amidah.   –Rambam, hilchot tefilah, 1:1

One who withdraws from the ways of the community, even though that one does not commit himself any transgression, but merely separates oneself from the congregation of Israel, and does not perform the commandments in their midst, and does not enter into their sorrow, nor fast on their fast days, nor feast on their feast days, such a one has no share in the hereafter. — MOSES MAIMONIDES

Torah law prohibits stealing even the smallest amount. It is prohibited to steal as a joke or to steal in order to return it or to pay for the item. It is all prohibited so that one does not become accustomed to [stealing].
       -  Rambam, Hilchot Genevah 1:2

“One who gives gifts of charity will know God’s blessing.  One who lends to the needy is behaving in an even finer way.  But the one…who invites a needy individual to become a partner in business is the most praiseworthy of all.” –Rambam Mattanot l’Aniyim Elevating another life elevates our lie.

“When a siege is laid to a city for the purpose of its capture, it may not be surrounded on all four sides, only on three sides in order t give an opportunity for escape to those who want to flee and save their lives.   It has been learned by tradition that this was the instruction given to Moses.”           - Rambam, Code, Laws Concerning Kings and Wars, chapter 6. Rules of engagement for Jews are not like the world’s rules.   Each life is holy precious.   Each soul is irreplaceable.   If we think this about war, what does this mean for us the next time we have an argument and see our “edge,” our “advantage”?   Should we go for it?