"Who Would Believe That the Rambam, the Righteous Giant, Would Fulfill My Most Personal and Important Dream"

The Rambam. The Great Eagle. From the day I came to understand, I've been told so much about him. Rabbis, parents, neighbors, older siblings. In fact, who hasn't? Essentially, everyone showered him with extraordinary praise, the likes of which I barely heard about anyone else, including the greatest figures. It was said that from Moses to Moses there arose none like Moses. A singular and unique genius, a righteous man, a tremendous decisor, philosopher, senior doctor, scientist, and so much more.

Some of them, with words that came from the heart and therefore entered it, spoke excitedly of his rare writing talent, and of his work, perhaps unique in our nation's history, 'Mishneh Torah.' Fourteen books, foundational for any Jew seeking 'the word of Hashem, this is the law,' touching on every halachic matter in the Written and Oral Torah in a manner unseen before or after.

They said, with a spark in their eyes, that it's a wondrous series of books that, despite the Rambam's humility, he testified that anyone desiring to study the holy Torah and comprehend all its laws can move directly from studying the Five Books of Moses to these texts, skipping everything written in between. Yes, to that extent.

And precisely for these reasons, as I sit now in my room, alone, writing to you about the daily study of the Rambam, which now fills and enriches my spiritual world with joy, I find it hard to believe that this larger-than-life figure, the righteous giant, one of the spiritual giants of the Jewish people of all generations, is fulfilling my most personal and important dream—an extensive, orderly, and systematic study of all of the Torah of Israel.

The truth is, in my childhood, I never dreamed of such things. My dreams, probably naturally, focused on completely different topics. There were years when a new toy car or a sophisticated video game was the peak of my aspirations. And to be even more truthful, even in my late childhood and adolescence, I was not walking in these realms, and my mind was elsewhere entirely.

In fact, the big turning point occurred a few months after I finished high school. Unfortunately, and to the regret of many of my friends, during those years, the observance of commandments was forced upon us fervently, without even bothering to explain why. Everything was cold and impersonal. Almost foreign. Towards the end of 12th grade, when all my peers were debating how and where to continue, I decided to go to a higher yeshiva.

Later on, as it turns out, this decision turned out to be significant and good in my life. There, for the first time, I learned and accepted Torah out of love. For the first time, I tasted the sweetness of the Torah, enjoyed the presence of Hashem, and delighted in His glory. I simply felt, in the most natural way, that its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace.

As time passed, I delved deeper and deeper into the length and breadth of the Torah. It's not always easy, there is the 'labor of Torah' which is not simple, and as is known, 'Torah wears out a person's strength,' and the evil inclination, as is its unholy habit, does not sit on its hands. Nevertheless, it always felt powerful and meaningful. Perhaps a bit like a long journey, sometimes arduous and sometimes delightful, during which one always remembers where we came from, where we're heading, and most importantly—why.

In my first year in yeshiva, b"H, I was privileged to taste all segments of the Torah. I studied, in classes, in pairs, and sometimes alone—Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Aggadah, and even a bit of Kabbalah. I truly walked in the orchard. Among all this, I quickly understood that the basis of observing commandments for every Jew is the study and knowledge of halacha. Because without it, there's nothing. Halacha is the basis, the trunk that must be broad and strong, allowing many branches to sit on it, with beautiful and sweet fruits.

Nowadays, having marked almost six months of daily Rambam study, I feel that I'm on my way to the goal. Living the dream. Beyond that, I feel and see that it helps me on the most basic level of observing commandments, sometimes in an almost technical layer of knowing what and how to do, and at the same time—it elevates my spiritual state and advances me in serving Hashem. Moreover, the feeling that pervades me when I confidently express the Rambam's opinion to people who are unsure about halachic questions brings me great delight.

Let me now expand on the study itself. Many do not know, but the daily Rambam study was conceived and initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1984, and it entails, at a pace of studying one chapter a day, finishing the 'Mishneh Torah' books after approximately two and a half years. Studying the daily chapter takes about ten minutes, and thanks to the excellent booklets edited and written by Rabbi Adin (Even-Israel) Steinsaltz on the daily Rambam, and the discs from Rabbi Chaim Sabato explaining and expanding on the Rambam's words, the study became even more pleasant, clear, and systematic.

So now I am on the way. On the way to fulfilling my great dream. And the road is long and winding. I fall and rise, fall and rise. Crossing bridge after bridge, never stopping to walk. I stand firm with my head held high, even in the more difficult moments, and even on days when I can't concentrate on Torah study.

In these moments, to muster the courage and strength (b"H, it always works), I imagine in my dream, on my way, by the roadside—the Rambam, and along with him, other righteous ones, ministering angels, and even Hashem Himself, accompanying me, lighting the way for me, and happy and proud of me. For every letter I read. For every law I learned. For every effort I made. Because I know that it's not in heaven. That it is very close to me, in my mouth and my heart to do it. I remember that the Torah is the light of life, and better than thousands of gold and silver. And that it depends upon me alone.