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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