Today marks the passing of one of the greatest Torah Sages of all time, Moses ben Maimon, known to the world as Maimonides. The laws of the Torah are explained and codified clearly in his Mishnah Torah and in Sefer HaMitzvot. The reason we know today that there are 613 precepts in the Torah is through the work of the Rambam, who discussed the various categories of Jewish law. He was also the author of the 13 Principles of Faith which are read in the morning prayer service and are the basis of Jewish belief.
The life of the Rambam is fascinating, and reminds me a bit of the story of Joseph in the Bible. Like Joseph, the Rambam was separated from his brother and descended to Egypt. He was involved in worldly affairs, yet remained a saintly man, devoted to the Torah. The Rambam was born in Cordova, Spain in 1135. When the radical Muslim leader, Almohades, came into power, many of the Jews were threatened with forced conversions, and the Rambam’s family fled to North Africa, and lived in Morocco for five years. During this time, the Rambam’s brother, who worked as a jewel merchant, died when his ship sank, and the family’s assets disappeared with him. The Rambam worked as a doctor to support his family, and became Saladin’s personal physician. He also dedicated his life to spiritual pursuits, became the leader of Egyptian Jewry, and authored the Mishna Torah. The Rambam was the only Torah sage to codify the laws concerning the coming of the Messiah, and provides the basis for our understanding of this concept.
The beauty of Rambam’s work is in its clarity. The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged men, women and children to learn the Rambam’s works daily. Sefer ha Mitzvot can be found in translation, and there are versions for kids. These items are available in Judaica stores, and you may be able to find them at Barnes & Noble, Borders and on Amazon.com.