Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 2

Hey, great to dive into Maimonides with you! This passage seems straightforward, but there’s a subtle philosophical depth here that changes how we think about "knowing" God.

Hook

Ever wondered what "knowing God" really means? The Rambam guides us from contemplating creation to understanding the essence of divine unity.

Context

Maimonides' Mishneh Torah begins with Sefer HaMadda, stressing intellectual understanding as foundational to Jewish practice, not just rote observance.

Text Snapshot

"When a person contemplates His wondrous and great deeds... he will immediately love, praise... [and] recoil in awe and fear..." (Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 2:2) "...the Creator... He, His knowledge, and His life are one from all sides and corners, in all manners of unity." (2:10) [https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Foundations_of_the_Torah_2]

Close Reading

Insight 1: Contemplation's Path

Love and fear of God arise from structured contemplation: from observing the cosmos (matter, angels) to grasping God's unique unity.

Insight 2: Absolute Unity

The phrase "one from all sides and corners" (אחד מכל צד ופינה) signifies God's absolute unity. It precludes any internal composition or external attributes.

Insight 3: Unknowable Knowledge

God's knowledge is God, a concept "beyond our ability to relate" (2:10). Our human understanding, which separates knower, known, and knowledge, cannot fully grasp this divine reality.

Two Angles

The Peirush (on Mishneh Torah 2:10:2) clarifies: if God's knowledge were external, it would be an "accident" (מקרה) to His "essence" (עצם), making Him composite and violating His unity. This highlights Maimonides' philosophical rigor against more anthropomorphic views.

Practice Implication

Deep intellectual engagement (ללמוד תורה לשמה) isn't just academic. It's a direct path to experiencing God's oneness, profoundly shaping our love and fear.

Chevruta Mini

1. If God's knowledge is inseparable from His being, how does that inform our prayers when asking Him to "know" our needs?
2. How do we balance seeking knowledge of God with the Rambam's admission that some truths are "beyond our ability to grasp"?

Takeaway

True love and fear of God emerge from deep contemplation of creation, leading to a profound, unifying understanding of His absolute oneness.