Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this chapter, the Rambam brings us to the very foundation of our emunah, explaining how we know with absolute certainty that Moshe Rabbeinu's prophecy is true. We learn that the miracles Moshe performed in Mitzrayim and the midbar were not meant to prove his prophecy, but were simply done for the practical needs of the moment. Rather, our eternal emunah rests solely on Ma'amad Har Sinai, where the entire nation saw the fire and heard the Voice of Hashem with their own eyes and ears.

We will also learn how this foundation guides our approach to any prophet who arises after Moshe Rabbeinu. The Rambam explains that we only listen to a later prophet because of the mitzvah Moshe commanded us to do so, and we are warned never to listen to anyone who uses signs or wonders to contradict the Torah of Moshe.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

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הָאֱמוּנָה בְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עַל פִּי מַעֲמַד הַר סִינַי וְלֹא עַל פִּי הָאוֹתוֹתHalacha 1 · Belief in Moshe Based on the Revelation at Sinai and Not on Wonders

משֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherלֹאnotהֶאֱמִינוּbelievedבּוֹin himיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָאוֹתוֹתthe wondersשֶׁעָשָׂה.that he performedשֶׁהַמַּאֲמִיןfor the believerעַלbyפִּיway ofהָאוֹתוֹתthe wondersיֵשׁthere isבְּלִבּוֹin his heartדֹּפִיdoubtשֶׁאֶפְשָׁרfor it is possibleשֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂהthat he performהָאוֹתthe wonderבְּלָטthrough magicוְכִשּׁוּף.and sorceryאֶלָּאratherכָּלallהָאוֹתוֹתthe wondersשֶׁעָשָׂהthat he performedמשֶׁהMosheבַּמִּדְבָּרin the desertלְפִיaccording toהַצֹּרֶךְthe needעֲשָׂאָם.he performed themלֹאnotלְהָבִיאto bringרְאָיָהproofעַלforהַנְּבוּאָה.the prophecyהָיָהhe wasצָרִיךְneededלְהַשְׁקִיעַto drownאֶת—הַמִּצְרִיִּיםthe Egyptiansקָרַעhe splitאֶת—הַיָּםthe seaוְהִצְלִילָןand sank themבְּתוֹכוֹ.in itצָרַכְנוּwe neededלְמָזוֹן· foodהוֹרִידhe brought downלָנוּfor usאֶת—הַמָּן.the mannaצָמְאוּthey thirstedבָּקַעhe splitלָהֶןfor themאֶת—הָאֶבֶן.the rockכָּפְרוּthey deniedבּוֹhimעֲדַתthe assembly ofקֹרַחKorachבָּלְעָהswallowedאוֹתָןthemהָאָרֶץ.the earthוְכֵןand soשְׁאָרthe rest ofכָּלallהָאוֹתוֹת.the wondersוּבַמֶּהand through whatהֶאֱמִינוּdid they believeבּוֹ.in himבְּמַעֲמַדat the standing ofהַרMountסִינַיSinaiשֶׁעֵינֵינוּfor our eyesרָאוּsawוְלֹאand notזָרa strangerוְאָזְנֵינוּand our earsשָׁמְעוּheardוְלֹאand notאַחֵרanotherהָאֵשׁthe fireוְהַקּוֹלוֹתand the soundsוְהַלַּפִּידִיםand the torchesוְהוּאand heנִגַּשׁapproachedאֶלtoהָעֲרָפֶלthe thick cloudוְהַקּוֹלand the Voiceמִדַּבֵּרspokeאֵלָיוto himוְאָנוּand weשׁוֹמְעִיםheardמשֶׁהMosheמשֶׁהMosheלֵךְgoאֱמֹרsayלָהֶןto themכָּךְthusוְכָךְ.and thusוְכֵןand soהוּאHeאוֹמֵרsaysדבריםDevarimה5ד4"פָּנִיםfaceבְּפָנִיםto faceדִּבֶּרspokeה'Hashemעִמָּכֶם".with youוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidדבריםDevarimה5ג3"לֹאnotאֶת—אֲבֹתֵינוּour fathersכָּרַתmadeה'Hashemאֶת—הַבְּרִיתthe covenantהַזֹּאת".thisוּמִנַּיִןand from whereשֶׁמַּעֲמַדthat the standing ofהַרMountסִינַיSinaiלְבַדּוֹaloneהִיאit isהָרְאָיָהthe proofלִנְבוּאָתוֹto his prophecyשֶׁהִיאthat it isאֱמֶתtruthשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notבּוֹin itדֹּפִיdoubtשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosיט19ט9"הִנֵּהbeholdאָנֹכִיIבָּאcomeאֵלֶיךָto youבְּעַבin the thickness ofהֶעָנָןthe cloudבַּעֲבוּרso thatיִשְׁמַעwill hearהָעָםthe peopleבְּדַבְּרִיin My speakingעִמָּךְwith youוְגַםand alsoבְּךָin youיַאֲמִינוּthey will believeלְעוֹלָם".foreverמִכְלַלfrom the implicationשֶׁקֹּדֶםthat beforeדָּבָרmatterזֶהthisלֹאnotהֶאֱמִינוּthey believedבּוֹin himנֶאֱמָנוּתa beliefשֶׁהִיאthat itעוֹמֶדֶתstandsלְעוֹלָםforeverאֶלָּאratherנֶאֱמָנוּתa beliefשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isאַחֲרֶיהָafter itהִרְהוּרsuspicionוּמַחֲשָׁבָה:and thought

The Rambam explains that the ultimate proof of Moshe's prophecy was the national revelation at Mount Sinai, rather than the miracles he performed out of necessity in the desert.

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אֱמוּנַת מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בְּמַעֲמַד הַר סִינַי וְהַיַּחַס לְאוֹתוֹת הַנְּבִיאִיםHalacha 2 · Belief in Moshe at Mount Sinai and the Status of Later Prophets' Signs

נִמְצְאוּItאֵלּוּtheseשֶׁשׁוּלַּחto whomלָהֶןto themהֵםtheyהָעֵדִיםthe witnessesעַלonנְבוּאָתוֹhis prophecyשֶׁהִיאthat itאֱמֶתis truthוְאֵינוֹand he is notצָרִיךְneededלַעֲשׂוֹתto performלָהֶןfor themאוֹתa signאַחֵר.anotherשֶׁהֵםfor theyוְהוּאand heעֵדִיםare witnessesבַּדָּבָרin the matterכִּשְׁנֵיlike twoעֵדִיםwitnessesשֶׁרָאוּwho sawדָּבָרa matterאֶחָדoneבְּיַחַדtogetherשֶׁכָּלthat eachאֶחָדoneמֵהֶןof themעֵדis a witnessלַחֲבֵרוֹto his colleagueשֶׁהוּאthat heאוֹמֵרsaysאֱמֶתtruthוְאֵיןand notאֶחָדoneמֵהֶןof themצָרִיךְis neededלְהָבִיאto bringרְאָיָהproofלַחֲבֵרוֹ.to his colleagueכָּךְsoמשֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherכָּלallיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelעֵדִיםwere witnessesלוֹto himאַחַרafterמַעֲמַדthe standing ofהַרMountסִינַיSinaiוְאֵינוֹand he is notצָרִיךְneededלַעֲשׂוֹתto performלָהֶםfor themאוֹת.a signוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁאָמַרwhatלוֹto himלְהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heבִּתְחִלַּתat the beginning ofנְבוּאָתוֹhis prophecyבְּעֵתat the timeשֶׁנָּתַןthat He gaveלוֹto himהָאוֹתוֹתthe signsלַעֲשׂוֹתָןto perform themבְּמִצְרַיִםin Mitzrayimוְאָמַרand He saidלוֹto himשמותShemosג3יח18"וְשָׁמְעוּand they will listenלְקלֶךָ".to your voiceיָדַעknewמשֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherשֶׁהַמַּאֲמִיןthat the believerעַלbyפִּי·הָאוֹתוֹתthe signsיֵשׁhasבִּלְבָבוֹin his heartדֹּפִיapprehensionוּמְהַרְהֵרand doubtsוּמְחַשֵּׁבand suspectsוְהָיָהand he wasנִשְׁמָטwithdrawingמִלֵּילֵךְfrom goingוְאָמַרand he saidשמותShemosד4א1"וְהֵןand beholdלֹאnotיַאֲמִינוּthey will believeלִי".meעַדuntilשֶׁהוֹדִיעוֹthat informed himהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy Oneבָּרוּךְblessedהוּאis Heשֶׁאֵלּוּthat theseהָאוֹתוֹתsignsאֵינָןare notאֶלָּאexceptעַדuntilשֶׁיֵּצְאוּthat they leaveמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Mitzrayimוְאַחַרand afterשֶׁיֵּצְאוּthat they leaveוְיַעַמְדוּand they standעַלonהָהָרthe mountainהַזֶּהthisיִסְתַּלֵּקwill be removedהִרְהוּרdoubtשֶׁמְּהַרְהֲרִיןthat they doubtאַחֲרֶיךָafter youשֶׁאֲנִיfor Iנוֹתֵןgiveלְךָto youכָּאןhereאוֹתa signשֶׁיֵּדְעוּthat they will knowשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iשְׁלַחְתִּיךָsent youבֶּאֱמֶתin truthמִתְּחִלָּהfrom the beginningוְלֹאand notיִשָּׁאֵרwill remainבְּלִבָּםin their heartהִרְהוּר.doubtוְהוּאand that isשֶׁהַכָּתוּבwhat the verseאוֹמֵרsaysשמותShemosג3יב12"וְזֶהand thisלְּךָfor youהָאוֹתis the signכִּיthatאָנֹכִיIשְׁלַחְתִּיךָsent youבְּהוֹצִיאֲךָwhen you take outאֶת—הָעָםthe peopleמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Mitzrayimתַּעַבְדוּןyou shall serveאֶת—הָאֱלֹהִיםGodעַלonהָהָרthe mountainהַזֶּה".thisנִמְצֵאתָConsequentlyאוֹמֵרyou sayשֶׁכָּלthat everyנָבִיאprophetשֶׁיַּעֲמֹדwho arisesאַחַרafterמשֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherאֵיןnotאָנוּweמַאֲמִינִיםbelieveבּוֹin himמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָאוֹתthe signלְבַדּוֹaloneכְּדֵיsoשֶׁנֹּאמַרthat we sayאִםifיַעֲשֶׂהhe performsאוֹתa signנִשְׁמַעwe will listenלוֹto himלְכָלto allמַהwhatשֶּׁיֹּאמַר.that he saysאֶלָּאratherמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַמִּצְוָהthe mitzvahשֶׁצִּוָּהthat commandedמשֶׁהMosheבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahוְאָמַרand saidאִםifנָתַןhe gaveאוֹתa signדבריםDevarimיח18טו15"אֵלָיוto himתִּשְׁמָעוּן".you shall listenכְּמוֹjustשֶׁצִּוָּנוּas He commanded usלַחְתֹּךְto decideהַדָּבָרthe matterעַלbyפִּי·שְׁנַיִםtwoעֵדִיםwitnessesוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁאֵיןthat notאָנוּweיוֹדְעִיןknowאִםifהֵעִידוּthey testifiedאֱמֶתtruthאִםorשֶׁקֶר.falsehoodכָּךְsoמִצְוָהit is a mitzvahלִשְׁמֹעַto listenמִזֶּהto thisהַנָּבִיאprophetאַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁאֵיןthat notאָנוּweיוֹדְעִיםknowאִםifהָאוֹתthe signאֱמֶתis truthאוֹorבְּכִשּׁוּףby magicוְלָט:and sorcery

This halacha explains that the Jewish nation's belief in Moshe Rabbeinu is based on the national revelation at Mount Sinai rather than miracles, and that we only listen to subsequent prophets because of Moshe's Torah command.

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אֵין מַאֲמִינִים לְנָבִיא הַבָּא לְהַכְחִישׁ אֶת נְבוּאַת משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּHalacha 3 · We Do Not Listen to a Prophet Who Denies the Prophecy of Moshe

לְפִיכָךְThereforeאִםifעָמַדarisesהַנָּבִיאthe prophetוְעָשָׂהand performsאוֹתוֹתsignsוּמוֹפְתִיםand wondersגְּדוֹלִיםgreatוּבִקֵּשׁand seeksלְהַכְחִישׁto denyנְבוּאָתוֹthe prophecyשֶׁלofמשֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherאֵיןwe do notשׁוֹמְעִיןlistenלוֹto himוְאָנוּand weיוֹדְעִיןknowבְּבֵאוּרwith clarityשֶׁאוֹתָןthat thoseהָאוֹתוֹתsignsבְּלָטthrough magicוְכִשּׁוּףand sorceryהֵן.they areלְפִיbecauseשֶׁנְּבוּאַתthe prophecy ofמשֶׁהMosheרַבֵּנוּour teacherאֵינָהּis notעַלbyפִּיway ofהָאוֹתוֹתthe signsכְּדֵיsoשֶׁנַּעֲרֹךְthat we compareאוֹתוֹתsigns ofזֶהthis oneלְאוֹתוֹתto signs ofזֶה.this oneאֶלָּאratherבְּעֵינֵינוּwith our eyesרְאִינוּהָwe saw itוּבְאָזְנֵינוּand with our earsשְׁמַעֲנוּהָwe heard itכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁשָּׁמַעheardהוּא.heהָאthisלְמָהto whatהַדָּבָרthe matterדּוֹמֶהis comparableלְעֵדִיםto witnessesשֶׁהֵעִידוּwho testifiedלָאָדָםto a manעַלaboutדָּבָרa matterשֶׁרָאָהthat he sawבְּעֵינָיוwith his eyesשֶׁאֵינוֹwhich is notכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁרָאָהwhat he sawשֶׁאֵינוֹthat he does notשׁוֹמֵעַlistenלָהֶןto themאֶלָּאratherיוֹדֵעַknowsבְּוַדַּאיwith certaintyשֶׁהֵןthat they areעֵדֵיwitnesses ofשֶׁקֶר.falsehoodלְפִיכָךְThereforeאָמְרָהstatedתּוֹרָהthe Torahשֶׁאִםthat ifבָּאcomesהָאוֹתthe signוְהַמּוֹפֵתand the wonderדבריםDevarimיג13ד4"לֹאdo notתִּשְׁמַעlistenאֶלtoדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַנָּבִיאthe prophetהַהוּא".thatשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdזֶהthis oneבָּאcomesאֵלֶיךָto youבְּאוֹתwith a signוּמוֹפֵתand a wonderלְהַכְחִישׁto denyמַהwhatשֶּׁרָאִיתָyou sawבְּעֵינֶיךָwith your eyesוְהוֹאִילand sinceוְאֵין·אָנוּwe do notמַאֲמִינִיםbelieveבְּמוֹפֵתin a wonderאֶלָּאexceptמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַמִּצְוֹתthe commandmentשֶׁצִּוָּנוּthat commanded usמשֶׁהMosheהֵיאַךְhowנְקַבֵּלcan we acceptמֵאוֹתfrom the sign ofזֶהthis oneשֶׁבָּאwho comesלְהַכְחִישׁto denyנְבוּאָתוֹthe prophecyשֶׁלofמשֶׁהMosheשֶׁרָאִינוּwhich we sawוְשֶׁשָּׁמַעְנוּ:and which we heard

This halacha explains that because the entire nation witnessed the revelation at Sinai, no subsequent prophet can use miracles to contradict the Torah of Moshe.

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The chapter establishes that the Jewish people's belief in Moshe Rabbeinu was not based on wonders, which can be faked through sorcery, but on the revelation at Mount Sinai where everyone witnessed his appointment firsthand. Because of this, any later prophet who performs wonders is only believed because of Moshe's command to do so, similar to how a court relies on two witnesses. Consequently, if a prophet arises and performs wonders to dispute the Torah of Moshe, we disregard him completely, knowing his signs are false, since a wonder can never override what we saw and heard with our own eyes at Sinai.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Rambam is teaching us a fundamental truth about the human soul: miracles, wonders, and external excitement do not build lasting emunah. A faith built on 'signs' is fragile; it leaves room for doubts and second-guessing. True, unbreakable connection only comes from direct, personal experience, the 'face to face' encounter of Ma'amad Har Sinai, where we saw and heard the truth for ourselves.

In our daily avodah, we often find ourselves waiting for 'signs' or waiting for inspiration to strike from the outside. We think, 'If only I had a great spiritual breakthrough, or if my prayers were answered with an obvious miracle, then I would be a different person.' But Hashem is telling us that real, enduring connection is not built on spectacular, fleeting moments. It is built on the quiet, steady reality of Torah and mitzvos that we live with every single day.

Stop looking for external wonders to jumpstart your yiras Shamayim. Instead, look at the Torah you learn and the mitzvos you perform as your own personal Har Sinai. When you sit down to learn or stand up to daven, you are not relying on hearsay or looking for magic; you are stepping directly into the reality of Hashem's presence.

Today, choose one mitzvah or one halacha and perform it not because you feel a sudden burst of inspiration, but simply because you stand before Hashem. Do it with the quiet, absolute certainty of someone who knows the truth in their very bones.