RAMBAM - Chof Teves

Today is the 20th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, it marks the yartzeit, the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, Maimonides, otherwise known as the Rambam. He lived in the 12th century and was a great philosopher, doctor, and Jewish scholar. But he is probably best remembered for his encyclopedic codification of all 613 commandments of the Torah in his magnum opus called the Mishne Torah.

Although he passed away so long ago, he and his great wisdom are still with us. When a person sits down to study a law from one of the Rambam's works, his spirit and teachings remain alive.

About the Rambam, our Sages have said, "From Moshe to Moshe, there was none like Moshe!" This means that from the time of the Moshe who took us out of Egypt, there has never lived a person who exhibited all of the Rambam's unique qualities.

In the Mishne Torah, the Rambam enumerates and details all of the 613 laws of the Torah. He places the laws relating to the Jewish king, and Moshiach, at the very end of his work - to emphasize that the true and complete performance of all the mitzvot of the Torah will be attained only when a king rules over Israel. The Rambam then defines Moshiach as a king, who will not only redeem the Jews from exile, but also restore the observance of the Torah to its complete state.

The Talmud writes that "the world was created solely for Moshiach." This being the case, we certainly must do everything in our power to prepare ourselves for Moshiach's imminent arrival.

What is within the power and reach of each individual? Good deeds, charity, , fostering peace between family and friends, studying concepts associated with Moshiach and the Final Redemption, and actively waiting for and anticipating his arrival each and every day.