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

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

When God decided to destroy the generation of the flood, He did not warn them; He kept it to Himself, so to speak. But the Torah teaches us of His silence and we learn an essential lesson for our own lives from it.

The very first in the Torah is a real doozy and the Sages seem to almost willfully misread it. Yet, we can defend their interpretation. In fact, we will learn an important lesson from it.

First we listen, then we speak. After special days of reflection and repentance, we are ready to offer more refined and defined prayers.

And all the nations will say, Why did God act this way to this land? Why is this great anger so strong? Unkelos's translation and explanation of the verses that follow give us a powerful insight into the connection between fantasy and suffering.

In this parsha we consider a great blessing and question. How do we leave the world as purely as we entered it?

The Torah’s simplest lessons carry surprising depth when we look at them more closely. This week, we look at the mitzvah of returning lost items—and what it really means for the way we live with dignity, care, and responsibility. A short insight to carry with you into the week.

Justice is a word we invoke, but rarely understand. In this episode, we ask what it truly means to be just and to find justice.