Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 7-9

Hey there! Welcome to a little Jewish learning adventure.

Hook

Ever stumble upon something beautiful from another culture – maybe a cool statue or a unique piece of art – and wonder about its original meaning? Jewish tradition has some surprisingly practical thoughts on how we interact with items that might have a... complicated past.

Context

Let's zoom in on a famous Jewish teacher, Maimonides (often called the Rambam for short).

• Who: Maimonides, a brilliant Jewish scholar.
• When: He lived in the 12th century, way back in medieval Egypt.
• Where: He wrote his masterpiece there.
• What: His Mishneh Torah is a huge book of Jewish law. Today, we're looking at a Mitzvah (a commandment or good deed from God) about Avodah Zarah (foreign worship, like worshipping a statue or anything not God).

Text Snapshot

Maimonides wrote: "It is forbidden to benefit from false deities, their accessories, offerings for them, and anything made for them... It is permitted to derive benefit from anything that has not been manipulated by man or that was not made by man, even though it was worshiped." (Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations 7:2, 8:1 - https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Foreign_Worship_and_Customs_of_the_Nations_7-9)

Close Reading

Insight 1: No Benefit, Please!

Judaism takes Avodah Zarah very seriously. It's not just about not worshipping other gods; it’s also about not even benefiting from things used for such worship. Think of it as a spiritual boundary.

Insight 2: Man-made vs. God-made

Notice the big distinction! If humans made something specifically for foreign worship (like a statue), it's completely off-limits. But if it's something natural – like a mountain, a tree, or an animal – that people chose to worship, it's still okay to benefit from the natural item itself. Why? Because God's creations are inherently good; human misuse doesn't permanently "taint" them.

Apply It

This week, take a moment to look around your home or workspace. Is there anything you own that you don't really understand or that feels disconnected from your values? You don't have to get rid of anything, but simply noticing can be a powerful act of intention.

Chevruta Mini

1. Why do you think Jewish law draws such a strong line between things "made for" foreign worship and natural things that were "worshipped"?
2. Is there a difference for you between seeing a cultural artifact in a museum and having it in your home?

Takeaway

Our choices about what we bring into our lives can reflect our deepest values.