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Why is Moshe' status as greatest prophet a fundamental principle rather than just historical fact? Moshe alone received objective prophecy - God's exact words without subjective filtering - while other prophets received perfect divine messages but expressed them in their own words. This distinction means we possess actual Torah (תורה), not just prophetic communication.
This shiur examines the seventh principle of the Ani Maamin - that Moshe was the chief of all prophets, both before and after him. Rabbi Zweig begins by questioning why this should be considered a fundamental article of faith rather than merely a historical fact, asking what practical difference it makes whether Moshe was the greatest prophet if all prophets must be obeyed equally. The answer emerges through an analysis of a Talmudic passage stating that Moshe wrote his book and the book of Bilaam. While other commentators struggle to explain why only Bilaam is mentioned when many prophets appear in the Torah (תורה), Rabbi Zweig offers a novel interpretation based on the fundamental difference between Moshe' prophecy and that of all other prophets.
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Thirteen Principles of Faith - Seventh Principle
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How can Torah be unchanging when we have countless rabbinic additions like Chanukah and safeguards that restrict biblical mitzvos? The shiur distinguishes between Torah as God's unchanging essence versus rabbinic responses to human weakness. All authentic Jewish innovations address changes in human capacity, never alterations to divine law itself.
