Hello Everyone,
In today and in the next one or two meetings we will discuss two fundamental concepts: תחיית המתים and עולם הבא.
The final three principles in the Rambam’s list of thirteen principles are Reward and Punishment, the Messiah and the Resurrection of the Dead. Are these three principles related and if so, then how?
The question of their relationship was taken very seriously and this question led to t the attacks on the Rambam by Rabbeinu Meir Abulafiah( known (in English) as the “Maimonidean Controversy”).
The Rambam and Rav Sadiah Gaon disagreed about ideas which they felt were central to Judaism. We have seen in the past two meetings that they did not agree about the ultimate lesson to be drawn from the story of Job. We will see that they disagree about what the term עולם הבא means and how it relates to the Resurrection.
I look forward to meeting with you.