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Why does Maimonides describe God as having 'absolute eternity' rather than simply being 'first and last'? The distinction establishes that mitzvah (מצוה) obligation stems from God's eternal kingship as philosophical necessity, not human acceptance of His rule. This creates a two-level framework: absolute obligation at the foundation, with love and joy properly expressed during performance.
Rabbi Zweig delivers a profound analysis of the fourth principle of faith from Maimonides' thirteen principles, focusing on a crucial distinction between the popular Ani Maamin version and Maimonides' original formulation. While the familiar version states that God is 'first and last,' Maimonides' original declares God's 'absolute eternity' - that He always was and always will be. This distinction, Rabbi Zweig argues, fundamentally alters our relationship with the Divine. The shiur addresses several theological paradoxes through this lens. First, the apparent contradiction at Mount Sinai where the Jews enthusiastically declared 'Na'aseh v'Nishma' (we will do and understand), yet God still had to lift the mountain over them as coercion. Second, the question of whether mitzvah (מצוה) performance motivated by personal desire differs meaningfully from secular choices. Third, the Talmudic debate over whether it's greater to perform mitzvos when commanded versus performing them voluntarily.
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