Q&A: Maimonides
Maimonides
Question
A question about the laws of the Sabbatical year and Jubilee, chapter 13, the last two halakhot. Can one infer from there that anyone who wants to study Torah is exempt from civic and military obligations like the Levites, or does Maimonides mean that anyone who wants can dedicate himself to service in the Temple and then his status will be like that of the Levites—but one cannot infer from this any exemption on account of Torah study?
Answer
I didn’t understand the question. That’s what Maimonides writes there, no? Of course, it’s not talking about anyone who wants to study Torah, but someone who dedicates himself exclusively to that and casts off all worldly concerns (which today is hardly true of almost anyone).
Beyond that, it’s not talking about someone who dedicates himself to service in the Temple, but to Torah study and the service of God. He also doesn’t write that his rights will be like those of the Levites (he won’t receive tithes), unless you meant rights in Heaven.
Discussion on Answer
It is surprising to me that the Rabbi, may his light shine, agreed to this understanding of Maimonides’ words. For me it had always been obvious that Maimonides never intended to exempt those whose spirit and understanding led them in this direction, etc., from participation in war and the like. Rather, his intention was to say that anyone who conducts himself in this way will be helped by God. Maimonides’ words there are simply ethical exhortation, in keeping with his practice of concluding his books with words of moral guidance.
Also regarding the Rabbi’s main assumption—that in our time there is hardly anyone who has cast off all worldly concerns—there would seem to be room to argue that the matter is relative to the condition of the generation.
Indeed, that too is a possible understanding of his words. But it is reasonable to infer from them that such a person should also be exempted from war.
I understand, thank you.