Jewish philosophy -- Early works to 1800; Judaism -- Works to 1900; Philosophy, Medieval -- Early works to 1800
Maimonides received many complimentary letters, congratulating him upon
his success; but likewise letters with criticisms and questions
respecting individual halakot. In most cases he had no difficulty in
defending his position. From the replies it must, however, be inferred
that Maimonides made some corrections and additions, which were
subsequently embodied in his work. The letters addressed to him on the
Mishneh Torah and on other subjects were so numerous that he frequently
complained of the time he had to spend in their perusal, and of the
annoyance they caused him; but “he bore all this patiently, as he had
learned in his youth to bear the yoke.” He was not surprised that many
misunderstood his words, for even the simple words of the Pentateuch,
“the Lord is one,” had met with the same fate. Some inferred from the
fact that he treated fully of ʻOlam ha-ba, “the future state of the
soul,” and neglected to expatiate on the resurrection of the dead, that
he altogether rejected that principle of faith. They therefore asked
Rabbi Samuel ha-levi of Bagdad to state his opinion; the Rabbi
accordingly discussed the subject; but, according to Maimonides, he
attempted to solve the problem in a very unsatisfactory manner. The
latter thereupon likewise wrote a treatise “On the Resurrection of the
Dead,” in which he protested his adherence to this article of faith. He
repeated the opinion he had stated in the Commentary on the Mishnah and
in the Mishneh Torah, but “in more words; the same idea being
reiterated in various forms, as the treatise was only intended for
women and for the common multitude.”
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