Q&A: Commandments According to Maimonides
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Commandments According to Maimonides
Question
Rabbi, hello, and happy holiday.
Maimonides gives reasons for the commandments, and among other things explains the whole issue of sacrifices as a response to what was practiced in his time by the nations of the world. If so, why does Maimonides state that in the days of the Messiah there will be no change in the obligations of the commandments that exist today? It seems to me to be a contradiction—is it really? And in your opinion, is this indeed Maimonides’ intention? Something else?
Answer
I don’t deal with reasons for the commandments. It’s a collection of baseless homiletic remarks.
Discussion on Answer
So am I.
I’m referring to Maimonides’ explanation of the sacrifices in Guide for the Perplexed.