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Why does denying even one word of Torah (תורה)'s divine origin constitute heresy according to the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s eighth principle? The answer distinguishes between ignorance and denial — the denier reduces Torah to human understanding, accepting only what makes sense to him. This approach fundamentally perverts Torah's divine nature by substituting human judgment for divine authority.
This shiur provides a comprehensive analysis of the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s eighth principle of faith - that the entire Torah (תורה) given through Moshe originated from God. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the Rambam's commentary emphasizing that every verse in Torah, from genealogical details to fundamental commandments like "I am the Lord your God," is equally holy and divine in origin. A significant portion addresses the practical question of standing during certain Torah readings (Az Yashir and Aseret HaDibrot) while sitting for the rest. Rabbi Zweig cites the Rambam's responsa forbidding this practice, as it suggests these portions are more authentic than others. He reconciles this with established custom by explaining that standing reflects our direct witness to these events, not superior authenticity.
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Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
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Why does the tenth principle of faith appear separate from the first principle about God's existence? The first principle establishes God's philosophical knowledge of creation, while the tenth addresses hashgacha - God's active providence in directing events rather than abandoning the world to natural forces. This distinction explains how divine supervision varies based on one's relationship with God and addresses the modern crisis of 'God is dead.'
