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OverviewMaimonides ends each book of his legal code the Mishneh torah with a moral or philosophical reflection, in which he lifts his eyes, as it were, from purely halakhic concerns and surveys broader horizons. Menachem Kellner and David Gillis analyse these concluding paragraphs, examining their verbal and thematic echoes, their adaptation of rabbinic sources, and the way in which they coordinate with the Mishneh torah’s underlying structures, in order to understand how they might influence our interpretation of the code as a whole—and indeed our view of Maimonides himself and his philosophy. Taking this unusual cross-section of the work, Kellner and Gillis conclude that the Mishneh torah presents not only a system of law, but also a system of universal values. They show how Maimonides fashions Jewish law and ritual as a programme for attaining ethical and intellectual ends that are accessible to all human beings, who are created equally in the image of God. Many reject the presentation of Maimonides as a universalist. The Mishneh torah especially is widely seen as a particularist sanctuary. This study shows how profoundly that view must be revised. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Menachem Kellner (Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Jewish Thought, Shalem College & Jerusalem and Wolfson Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought, University of Haifa) , David GillisPublisher: Liverpool University Press Imprint: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization Weight: 0.368kg ISBN: 9781906764555ISBN 10: 1906764557 Pages: 416 Publication Date: 04 November 2020 Audience: College/higher education , Tertiary & Higher Education Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Not yet available  This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release. Table of ContentsNote on Transliteration Introduction 1. Knowledge: To Know Is To Love 2. Love: Abraham, Moses, and the Meaning of Circumcision 3. Seasons: Hanukah and Purim Reconfigured 4. Women: Marital and Universal Peace 5. Holiness: Commandments as Instruments 6. Asseverations: Social Responsibility and Sanctifying God's Name 7. Agriculture: Sanctifying All Human Beings 8. Temple Service: The Divinity of the Commandments 9. Offerings: The Morality of the Commandments 10. Ritual Purity: Intellectual and Moral Purity 11. Damages: Who Is a Jew? 12. Acquisition: Slavery versus Universal Humanity 13. Civil Laws: God of Aristotle in the God of Abraham 14. Judges: Messianic Universalism Conclusion Appendix: Maimonides' Cosmic Paradigm Bibliography Index of Citations Index of SubjectsReviewsReviews'Kellner and Gillis have written an impressive book that enables readers to enter more deeply into Rambam's religious worldview. At a time when Rambam is subject to so much misrepresentation and misunderstanding, it is heartening to read a book that seeks to present Rambam's teachings in a clear, genuine and convincing manner.' Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Jewish Ideas 'This book belongs in the hands of anyone who teaches the philosophic halakhah of Maimonides, anyone who teaches topics such as slavery, ethics, or messianism in Maimonidean philosophic law. This book should be a valuable part of the essential library of the High School rabbi or pulpit rabbi looking to give a universalist defense of Judaism. The authors of this book have a sharp eye and acute ear for parallels between passages and echoes to discussions elsewhere in the text. As a literary reading of Maimonides the book is without equal.' Alan Brill, Kavvanah 'The book most reads easily, making it accessible to readers not intimately acquainted with Mishneh Torah. And the book's extensive cross-references to Rambam's other works a are source of delight to scholars of Maimonidean studies.'Eugene Korn, H-Judaic 'By treating these sermonettes to an in-depth study, the authors reveal how they can enhance our understanding of the MT itself and of Maimonides' philosophical outlook. [...] Kellner and Gillis demonstrate that the reflective endings of MT reveal his understanding of Judaism as an ever-expanding intellectual horizon upon which halakhah was the means not the end in itself. Highly recommended for all libraries.'David B Levy, Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews Reviews'Kellner and Gillis have written an impressive book that enables readers to enter more deeply into Rambam's religious worldview. At a time when Rambam is subject to so much misrepresentation and misunderstanding, it is heartening to read a book that seeks to present Rambam's teachings in a clear, genuine and convincing manner.' Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Jewish Ideas 'This book belongs in the hands of anyone who teaches the philosophic halakhah of Maimonides, anyone who teaches topics such as slavery, ethics, or messianism in Maimonidean philosophic law. This book should be a valuable part of the essential library of the High School rabbi or pulpit rabbi looking to give a universalist defense of Judaism. The authors of this book have a sharp eye and acute ear for parallels between passages and echoes to discussions elsewhere in the text. As a literary reading of Maimonides the book is without equal.' Alan Brill, Kavvanah 'The book most reads easily, making it accessible to readers not intimately acquainted with Mishneh Torah. And the book's extensive cross-references to Rambam's other works a are source of delight to scholars of Maimonidean studies.'Eugene Korn, H-Judaic 'By treating these sermonettes to an in-depth study, the authors reveal how they can enhance our understanding of the MT itself and of Maimonides' philosophical outlook. [...] Kellner and Gillis demonstrate that the reflective endings of MT reveal his understanding of Judaism as an ever-expanding intellectual horizon upon which halakhah was the means not the end in itself. Highly recommended for all libraries.'David B Levy, Association of Jewish Libraries News and Reviews 'This is a valuable book that takes its place among other important recent works of Maimonidean scholarship. A special treat awaits readers as well-namely, the appendix devoted to Maimonides's cosmic paradigm complete with a helpful illustration of the intellects and the spheres.' Marc B. Shapiro, The Journal of Religion Reviews'Kellner and Gillis have written an impressive book that enables readers to enter more deeply into Rambam's religious worldview. At a time when Rambam is subject to so much misrepresentation and misunderstanding, it is heartening to read a book that seeks to present Rambam's teachings in a clear, genuine and convincing manner.' Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Jewish Ideas 'This book belongs in the hands of anyone who teaches the philosophic halakhah of Maimonides, anyone who teaches topics such as slavery, ethics, or messianism in Maimonidean philosophic law. This book should be a valuable part of the essential library of the High School rabbi or pulpit rabbi looking to give a universalist defense of Judaism. The authors of this book have a sharp eye and acute ear for parallels between passages and echoes to discussions elsewhere in the text. As a literary reading of Maimonides the book is without equal.' Alan Brill, Kavvanah 'The book most reads easily, making it accessible to readers not intimately acquainted with Mishneh Torah. And the book's extensive cross-references to Rambam's other works a are source of delight to scholars of Maimonidean studies.'Eugene Korn, H-Judaic Reviews'Kellner and Gillis have written an impressive book that enables readers to enter more deeply into Rambam's religious worldview. At a time when Rambam is subject to so much misrepresentation and misunderstanding, it is heartening to read a book that seeks to present Rambam's teachings in a clear, genuine and convincing manner.' Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Jewish Ideas Author InformationProfessor Kellner is chair of the Department of Philosophy and Jewish Thought, Shalem College, Jerusalem and Wolfson Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought, University of Haifa. David Gillis is an independent scholar and author of Reading Maimonides Mishneh Torah, also published by the Littman Library. 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