Rambam
Rambam (1138-1204) was a towering figure in medieval Jewish law and philosophy, serving as the leading halakhic authority in Egypt during the 12th century. He authored the Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive codification of Jewish law that systematically organized the entire halakha without references to sources, and also wrote an influential commentary on the Mishnah. His works became foundational to Sephardic and broader Jewish legal tradition.
Works & Contributions (11)
- Mishneh Torah, Hilchot De'ot (cited in Aruch HaShulchan 3:6 and Mishnah Berurah 3:11)
- Hagahot Rambam and Raavad commentary
- Wrote Perush HaMishnayot (commentary on the Mishnah)
- Rambam Hilchot Tefillah 12:9, cited by Beur HaGra
Origin
Córdoba, Al-Andalus (Spain); later Egypt
1138–1204 CE (4898–4964)
Historical Context
Decisional Profile
Opinions recorded by category
Topic Coverage
Each square represents a topic. Darker squares indicate more opinions recorded in that topic.
Shabbat
Daily Life
Prayer
Blessings
Tzitzit & Tefillin
Pesach
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Hanukkah
Purim
Holidays
Fasts & Mourning
Rulings (178)
How long must one wait between two consecutive Amidah prayers?
One must wait until one's mind is settled and composed for supplication (ke-dei she-titchonen da'ato…
Are women obligated in prayer (Amidah)?
Prayer is a biblical positive commandment not limited by time; therefore women are obligated from th…
Is prayer a biblical (d'oraita) or rabbinic (d'rabbanan) obligation?
Prayer is a biblical positive commandment derived from 'and to serve God with all your heart' (Devar…
May a congregation (tzibur) pray an additional voluntary prayer?
A congregation does not pray a voluntary prayer because a congregation does not bring voluntary offe…
May one pray a voluntary prayer on Shabbat or a Yom Tov (holiday)?
One may not pray voluntary prayer on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Some authorities hold this is because volu…
According to the Rambam's method, if one started praying simultaneously with the chazzan and cannot finish before Shome'a Tefillah, should one continue word-for-word with the chazzan to the end?
If one began with the chazzan and cannot finish before Shome'a Tefillah, one should continue recitin…
Are tzitzit strings valid if spun by a non-Jew while a Jew stands over him and instructs him to do it lishmah?
Strings spun by a non-Jew are invalid even if a Jew stands over him and directs the work to be lishm…
Must tzitzit strings also be twisted/spun-together (shezurah) lishmah?
Shezurah (twisting together) is not required at all for tzitzit; even untwisted strings are valid.
What is the minimum and standard length requirement for tzitzit strings?
Minimum length is 4 thumb-widths covering both the gdil (wound section) and the anaf (hanging sectio…
Are tzitzit strings made from stolen wool valid?
Even stolen wool made into strings is invalid; Beit Yosef suggests this refers to before renunciatio…
When a chazan cannot return to the correct place after erring, who replaces him and from where does the replacement begin?
If the chazan cannot settle his mind to return to the correct place for an hour, another should repl…
May a Kohen add additional verses beyond the three biblical verses of Birkat Kohanim?
A Kohen may not add any blessing to the three verses of Birkat Kohanim in any manner — whether in a …
When a Torah reader becomes unable to continue (nishtatek), must the replacement reader recite the blessing before reading?
The replacement reader may rely on the first reader's blessing and does not recite the blessing befo…
If a Torah reader errs in the pronunciation of even a single letter (in a way that changes the meaning), must he go back and re-read?
If one read and erred, even in the precision of a single letter, we require him to go back until he …
When is one first forbidden to speak—when the Torah scroll is opened or when reading begins?
The prohibition begins when the reader begins to read (kiyvan she-hitchil ha-kore'a)