Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed

Nietzsche wasn’t wrong about everything. No, the will to power- pure human desire that crosses all moral boundaries- will never be Jewish. But he got something fundamentally right. We will call it the ‘Will to Shabbat.’ And we read about it in this week’s torah portion.

Why is blood forbidden? Is it inherently wrong, or did it once mean something rejected by the Torah? As we shall see, sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar and we are going to turn the mirror on ourselves and our actions to see what they really mean.

Sources: Ex. 29:21, Guide 3:46

Our episode for Parshat Terumah raises some serious questions about the nature of Jewish Law and the Rambam's views in particular. So does the Rambam believe that Judaism requires building a third Temple? And if there are historical reasons behind the commandments, do we still need to keep them today?

Tune in to this bonus episode to find out the answers and be sure to send any questions you have to rabbi@uosh.org.

The truth is very important. But it is not sufficient. So we see in the Rambam's famous explanation for the commandment to build the Tabernacle.

There is a great lesson here, as always.

The Rambam's views raise some fundamental questions about Jewish Law, so look out for a bonus episode to follow.

Jewish belief is not enough, the Rambam says. This isn’t just about habits or culture- it’s about Jewish identity. And if we want that identity to last, we’ll need to learn the lessons of Shabbat.

Sources: Ex. 20:10, Guide 2:31, Atomic Habits p. 36

God doesn’t change people. And we shouldn’t try to.

In this week's episode, we see just how central this principle is to Torah. And then we think about how important it ought to be to us.

Sources: Ex. 13:17, Guide 3:32, Avot 2:4

How do we overcome false ideas and ideals? We slaughter them publicly. This is the purpose of the Paschal lamb and a great lesson for our time.

Moshe was not always a prophet. First, he was a person inspired by the Spirit of God. And we can be too.

Who decides what’s prophecy- and who decides what to trust?

And what surprising spiritual lesson is revealed when we learn the answers to these questions?

Sources: Gen. 48:3, 35:6-11, Kings 1 3:15, Guide 2:32, 36, 39, 41, 45

Painting by Yoram Raanan

Why does Unkelos translate “I will go down with you to Egypt” literally—when he usually avoids any language that suggests God has a body? In this episode of Unperplexed, we follow the Rambam’s answer and discover a deep principle about prophecy, interpretation, and why reverence for great thinkers still matters today.

We usually think the Torah is deeply critical of our attachment to money and property. But what if the law itself assumes that attachment—and even takes it seriously? This episode explores a surprising Rambam, an anxious moment in the Yosef story, and what they reveal about human nature and the Torah’s legal wisdom.

Sources: Guide 3:40, De’ot 3:1-2, Gen. 43:18 with commentaries.

The Rambam argues that sin offerings are so often goats because the brothers dipped Joseph's coat into goat blood. In fact, in just a few words, he reframes our understanding of offerings, sin, repentance, and Jewish peoplehood. And we learn of the debts we carry.

Sources: Guide 3:46, Gen. 37:31

Yaakov dreams that he wrestles and angel and somehow comes out with a limp. Is this possible? And what does it mean?

In fact, it contains the kernel of a great and life changing idea.

Sources: Guide 2:42, 6, Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam to Gen. 32:26.

Pictured: Gustave Doré, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (1855)

Jacob dreams of angels climbing a ladder and God standing above them. But God doesn't stand and angels don't need to climb. So what does his dream actually mean? In one of the famous passages of the Guide, the Rambam explains and- in doing so- he explains what Jewish spirituality really is.

Rivkah found out that Esav was planning to kill Yaakov, so she sent him away. What did she hear and how? And what lesson does that contain for us?

Gen. 27:41-42 with commentators, Guide 1:65, Pesachim 54b.

Avimelech says he's righteous, Avraham says he's not. God seems to agree with both of them (this is Judaism, after all). So which is it and what should we learn from this moral conundrum?

Pictured: Jan de Herdt, 'Abraham and Abimelech'.

“I will bless those who bless you.” What does that really mean — and why did Avraham need to hear it? Find out in this week’s episode of Unperplexed.

Pictured: Yoram Raanan: Lech Lecha - Biblical print