Wednesday marked the completion of the annual study of the Mishneh Torah, the great code of halakha – Jewish law – written by Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, in the 12th century CE.
One of the most interesting qualities of that code is that it includes all Jewish laws, even those that are not applied today, such as the laws relating to the Temple.
In 1984, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of blessed memory, instituted that all Jews study the book of Rambam and explained the advantages of this, among which are the following ideas:
1) The fact that the entire Jewish people are studying the same subject at the same time generates a very important increase in Ajdut Israel, the unity of the Jewish people.
2) Maimonides writes in his introduction to the Mishneh Torah that whoever studies his compilation, along with the Written Torah, has fulfilled the duty of studying the entire Torah. In other words, Maimonides compiled all the laws, making the study of the entire Oral Torah accessible.
In addition, it is worth adding some words from our sages regarding the study of the Mitzvot of the Torah in general and the books of Rambam in particular:
1) It is a duty for every Jew to know the 613 Mitzvot and their explanation as they were given to Moshe on Mount Sinai (Introduction of the sons of the Alter Rebbe to the Shulchan Aruch).
2) In the name of the Kabbalists, it is said that it arises from the Book of Reincarnations by Rabbi Chaim Vital, of blessed memory, that whoever studies the books of Rambam does not suffer reincarnation. (From a letter by Rabbi Shlomo Shlomil in the book Shivjei HaAri)
3) They say of the Rebbe of Kotzk that he was very careful with the study of the Rambam (Amud HaEmet, 92)
4) And the Holy Rav of Apto already said that the golden language of the Rambam is a wonderful cure for the soul. (Leket Shijeja uPea, 59)
5) A man must fulfill all 613 Mitzvot, in thought, word, and deed; therefore, he must study Rambam... who has an explanation of the 613 Mitzvot. (Or laTzadikim 21:19)
Now, after so many holy and lofty words, I am not one to add anything, but simply to awaken in the hearts of those interested in drawing closer to God, through this relatively simple Mitzvah (the Rambam's Book of Commandments is even available in Spanish!), that this is an excellent time to begin!