Rumblings and Ramblings

Who said that?... & Why?

“Before appearing in public, one must first think over what one wishes to say, once, twice, thrice, four times, and only then should one speak. That holds for an oral delivery; but anything to be spread abroad in writing must be tested a thousand times.” __Maimonides

Perhaps Helen Thomas would have done well to read, with diligence and effort the writings of Moses Maimon, popularly known as “Maimonides”. It was he who made the statement that was, in our own time, reversed and abbreviated: “The greater the pain, greater the reward.” [or: “No pain-No gain”]. All of which only proves that it takes little talent and perhaps less intelligence to be a White house Correspondent of long standing.

But whether we are White house correspondents or a Simple Yid, it would be well for us to learn from the ‘fathers’ of Judaism and while we may never know the ‘real truth’ of their lives or the ‘truth’ of the historical Torah and the events recorded therein; we do have knowledge that has been passed down to us. And we do have teachings that are just as relevant today as they were three thousand years ago. As the axiom states: “There is nothing new under the sun.” So: who said what and why... Is it really relevant or is it the important aspect of the timeless truth that is contained within these statements?

Maimonides, it is said, did not believe in anecdotes and fables of Arabic historiography, genealogies and songs for reading them, “...is a waste of time.” As was his idea of reading for recreation. And yet he consumed volume upon volume of astronomy, conic sections, mechanics and similar subjects - to sharpen his mind and train his understanding. Yet, he said, that he did not study for the sake of knowledge so much as to be able to structure his ‘skill’ in achieving his goal (to come closer to understanding G-d). To that end he studied the ‘art’ of healing for it was yet another way to acquire virtues and the knowledge of G-d.

Still: “When G-d reveals something to man, the man must conceal it.”

Now, let us stop right here in learning about the man Maimonides and try to make some sense of what we now know about him and his teachings. And let us consider what it means to the Jew of the 21st century C.E. This individual lived during a time of Muslim-Berber unrest in Mediterranean in the latter years of the 1100’s - nearly one thousand years ago. Man has not progressed very far during that time in terms of intra-personal relationships while making quantum leaps in “knowledge”. And what have we, really, achieved? If you say, “Not much.”, then I say: “Why not?” Is it because we heard the words of our ancestors without understanding and assimilating them? Do we think that we know better just because we now have cellular ‘phones that take pictures and listen to music while we “Twitter” away our precious time?

And has G-d chosen not to reveal something to us as we don’t deserve to conceal it?

So, if we proceed with first accepting and understanding that there is (a/singular/omnipotent and omnipresent) G-d [which is, of course the major fundamental premise] who has created the heavens and the earths (plural) and has created the innumerable creatures; then can we assume that He has a reason for each and every creature? If so, can you perceive man as being capable of knowing each and every creature let alone knowing why it exists? Why it ever existed or why it one day ceased to exist?