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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu> Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 07:45:17 -0400 (EDT) Subject: RE: Maimonidees Attitude towards Sacrifices Eli Linas in v33n20 states regarding Korbanoth (Sacrifices) >>I've heard it said that the Rambam said what he did in the Moreh because of the audience he was addressing - secularized, "cultured" Jews so that they could feel comfortable returning to observance, and once returned, they'd see the emes for themselves. Moreover, isn't the Torah immutable>> Just the set the record straight I wrote an article "Maimonidees Attitude Towards Sacrifices" (Tradition 1973)(Copies available to anyone who sends me their real address) I show halachic sources that 1) Maimonidees(and others) felt there was a halachic **obligation** to lie (or white lie) if (a) the lie would prevent people from going astray (b) the people dealt with were ignorant and vulnerable (c) telling them the truth would not help 2) I then show that Maimonidees believed that (a)"even the Rabbinic leaders were ignorant of sacrifices (Intro to Commentary on Kodashim)", (b) that the Jewish people suffered from attacks by rationalists on the sacrifice laws (Laws of Temple Descecration--Last Chapter Law) Hence Maimonidees believed he was *obligated* to mislead people in the Guide 3) I further show (from actual language) that the controversy between Ramban and Rambam was "whether people would believe the symbolic meaning of sacrifices". (Ramban held that this was a 'pleasant commandment' and there was no need to lie) 4) This topic has been discussed on Torah Forum. I pointed out there that besides the issue of the "immutability of the Torah" there is AN EQUALLY SERIOUS issue of "Learning". It is a primary Biblical commandment to learn. **If** I believed that sacrifices were concessions to temporary conditions then there is no reason why I should learn them. On the other hand if sacrifices have intrinsic value (eg teaching Psychological methods as Rav Hirsch suggested) then indeed I should spend many hours studying them Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA Dept of Math Towson Univ Moderator Rashi is SImple http://www.RashiYomi.Com NEW NU IMPROVED