Questions tagged [ramban]
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (1194-1270 CE). A noted medieval rabbi, talmudist, kabbalist, biblical commentator, philosopher, and physician. Most famous for his commentary on the Torah. Also known as Nachmanides.
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Is belief in Midrashim optional?
The Ramban in Sefer Havikuach (page 32, the bottom of the first column ) asserts with regard to Midrash:
מי שיאמין בו טוב. ומי שלא יאמין בו לא יזיק
Whoever believes in it, good, he who does not ...
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Discrepancy between Sefer HaMitzvos and Sefer Hachinuch
The Rambam in Sefer HaMitzvos, Lo Saaseh 148 writes that a non-Kohen who eats kodshim/holy food breaks a negative mitzvah:
שהזהירנו שלא לאכול זר מבשר קדשי הקדשים. והוא אמרו יתעלה וזר לא יאכל כי קדש ...
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Differences between RaMbaM and RaMbaN's mitzvah count
I know both the Rambam and Ramban listed all of the 613 mitzvos, and that they differ in some (I think like 16ish?)
What are the ones upon which they differ? If possible please include why they differ ...
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Belief-with worship only towards HaShem - in the real existence of intermediaries between the Almighty and the Gentile Nations
I am an Italian Noahide.
There are several discussions in this forum about shituf, understood as associating other entities with HaShem.
Unless I am mistaken, it is generally held that on the halachic ...
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Ramban and Shituf. What is his position?
The Ramban on Devarim 7:6 says:
בך בחר ה' אלהיך להיות לו לעם סגלה שאין לך קצין שוטר ומושל בכל מלאכי מעלה אבל אתה סגולת ה' תחת ידו ולכך לא תטעה לעבוד ע"ז מאלהי העמים וכבר הזכרתי זה פעמים רבות
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Source of Ramban's famous debate
Where can one find the 'disputation of Barcelona' between Pablo Cristiani and the Ramban?
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Understanding the Gemara and Ramban on the four one-siman animals
Vayikra 11:1-8
א וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן, לֵאמֹר אֲלֵהֶם. ב דַּבְּרוּ אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: זֹאת הַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכְלוּ, מִכָּל-הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ. ג ...
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Learning Ramban Al HaTorah
I'd like to begin learning Ramban Al HaTorah and was wondering if someone has had experience with learning Ramban using a certain set of Chumash. I know of three different sets that have biurim/notes ...
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How are Birchos Krias Shema blessings on Krias Shema?
The Ramban (Brachos 11b) writes that Birkas Kriyas Shema are blessings over the Mitzva of saying Shema.
What's in the text of Birkas Kriyas Shema that has to do with Shema? It talks about angels, ...
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Is the Ramban's observation of "red drops similar to blood developing on a mirror " recorded by anyone else?
The Ramban in VaYikra 18:19 writes the following:
(Source from Sefaria)
(Partial Quote)
ועוד הגידו בו נסיון אמיתי והוא ממפלאות תמים דעים בתולדה כי הנדה בתחילת זובה
אם תביט במראה של ברזל הבהיר ...
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Who is "הנגד" that the Ramban is referring to?
The Ramban in Sefer Bereishis, Perek 17, Passuk 1, ד״ה א-ל שקי quotes Rebbi Avraham (the Ibn Ezra) who says something in the name of ״הנגד״ .
The words of the Ramban are: ״ורבי אברהם יפרשו בשם הנגד ...
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Web sites where I can post divrei Torah
Can anyone suggest a good site where I can post a weekly list of marei mekomos in Ramban on the Parsha?
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Is there an English translation online of the Ramban on Chumash?
The title pretty much says it- I'm looking for an English translation of the Ramban on Chumash online (preferably for free).
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On which precise halachic source did Rambam claim that the pilegesh is forbidden to all Jewish men except the kings of Israel?
I’m an Italian noahide.
This question covers my exclusively intellectual curiosity, being an halachic case that does not concern the Gentiles but only the Jews.
We read in Mishneh Torah -Melachim ...
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Chalitzah where Yibum is forbidden
The Tur, Even Haezer 169 (Hilchos Chalitzah), says that even where Yibum is not allowed, the parts of Chalitzah like "He refuses to do yibum" and "I do not want to marry her" must ...
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Nahmanides on the Golden Altar
Mention of the golden altar is separated from most of the other constructed vessels of the Tabernacle by a description of the clothing of the priests and the process of their ordination.
Nahmanides ...
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Is the Ramban's observation of "images of young dog pups in urine" recorded by anyone else?
The Ramban notes in his commentary on Bamidbar 21:9 the following:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
וכבר הזכירו דבר מנוסה מפלאות התולדה כי נשוך הכלב השוטה אחרי שנשתטה בחליו אם יקובל השתן שלו בכלי זכוכית ...
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Egel Hazahav and idolatry: Ramban vs Rashi
Shemot 32:1 says
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the
mountain, the people gathered against Aaron and said to him, “Come,
make us a god who shall go before us, for ...
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How can Ramban give this reason?
The Gemara in Nedarim 32a gives 3 reasons for why the Jews were put into slavery in Egypt because of Abraham (one is because he made his students fight in the war against the kings, the other is that ...
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Miracles through natural means
I've heard it said that both Ramban and Rambam believed that Hashem causes miracles to occur through natural means, but I've never seen this. What exactly do they (and other significant Rabbonim) say ...
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White booklet that lists key pieces in Ramban Al HaTorah?
I was told there's a small white booklet which lists the main pieces in Ramban Al HaTorah for each parsha. I have asked around and people have told me that it has been out of print for a while.
Does ...
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Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 98b: an interpretation in a messianic sense of the figure of the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 52-53?
I’m an Italian noahide.
I read in various Jewish sources, and also in this forum at
The suffering servant? Yeshayahu- Isaiah - Chapter 53
that the figure of the "suffering servant" described in ...
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Why is the Ramban's Hilchos Challah in the back of Bechoros?
I noticed that Hilchos Challah follows Hilchos Bechoros in the back of the Gemarah Bechoros. Why is this where the Ramban placed his Hilchos Challah?
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Channukah and Bal Tosif
There are questions on the site which deal with saying Hallel on Channukah but my question seeks a more fundamental insight:
The Ramban writes on Devarim 4:2 that a violation of Bal Tosif is creating ...
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Why does Judaism believe in דולפנין Mermaids? [duplicate]
Why does Judaism believe in דולפנין Mermaids?
Rashi on Bekhorot 8a:1:1
The Dulfanin reproduce with people - if a person lies with one of them, they can produce offspring. ( ה"ג הדולפנין פרים ורבים ...
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Who was Rav Yonah the grandson of Rabbeinu Yonah and Ramban?
There is a fascinating piece brought in the Shu"t HaRashbash (Rav Shlomo ben Shimon Duran) in siman 291 (although written clearly here) where it relates the following story:
Rabbeinu Yonah’s ...
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According to the Ramban, Did all the descendants of all the Sh'vatim observe the Torah before it was given?
From the Ramban in Beraishis 26:5 it seems that not only Avraham Avinu kept the Torah, but also his descendants, including Yaakov, Yosef, Amram, Moshe etc. He derives this from the passuk "that he [...
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"The Disputation" Christian (& Messianic) missionary claims
I have a copy of a book "The Disputation" (1972, Scholarly Publications) which is described in its Amazon page like this:
This book is one of the finest books around to use in refuting Hebrew
...
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Did God really backup the Sun dial for Hezekiah?
According to 2 Kings 20:9-11., Hezekiah while on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah. The King was about to die so he asked for a sign as proof that G-d would grant him a longer life. ...
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Where can I find the Ramban's Letter in PDF?
I am looking to download or print a PDF of the Igeret HaRamban in the original Hebrew, to be able to view/read conveniently. Does anyone know where I can find this?
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Translating Ramban on Dovid Hamelech's birth/ancestry
I am trying to learn this with a friend but I am having trouble translating - any help would be great! Does anyone know according to Ramban what is the miracle involved in the birth of Dovid Hamelech/...
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Ramban and the generations
I heard someone mention the folowing:
The Ramban in the writings on sefer koheles make an interesting diyuk. Koheles (1:4) tell us, “A generation goes and a generation comes.” The Ramban tell us that ...
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Mishkan before/after Egel (Rashi & Ramban)
The Ramban and Rashi disagree when the Mishkan was commanded to be built. Either before or after the Egel HaZahav respectively. Can you provide SOURCES that are able to reconcile their differences?
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Why does Ramban claim that Rambam does not prohibit the pilegesh for a commoner?
We read in Teshuvot haRashba Meyuchas LehaRamban No. 284:
(….) “And also in regard to the words of the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben
Maimon), of Blessed Memory, they are not intended to forbid the
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Source for Ramban regarding Devarim 30:7
According to Ramban (in the context of Vikuah), Devarim 30:7 applies both to notzrim and ishmaelim:
וקראתי להם פרשת והיה כי יבואו עליך כל הדברים האלה הברכה והקללה אשר
נתתי לפניך, וגמר הפרשה עד ...
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Machir entering Israel
Related to The age of Machir's Sons the Stone edition on Bamidbar 32:40, when discussing the textual reference to Machir says that the text means Machir's descendants. But then it says,
Ramban ...
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Ramban's approach to the Egel
"Eileh Elokecha Yisroel Asher He'lucha Mai'eretz Mitzraim"
Rashi (Exodus 32:1) says that when the Jews made the Egel, they actually wanted to make many gods - seemingly they strayed from monotheism ...
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According to Ramban, why is גזל part of the ז מצות בני נח?
One of the ז מצות בני נח is דינים. According to the Ramban on parshat vayishlach (34:13)
the laws that were counted [as one] of the seven commandments that the Children of Noach were commanded is ...
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Source for Ramban's perception on death
I read Rav Gifter's biography, where he states the following:
The Ramban, in his introduction to Iyov, asks a question: “Why do we cry at a moment of death? “Why do we shed tears? This is the natural ...
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Drasha Le'Chasuna Le'HaRamban
I'm looking for an online copy of "Drasha Le'Chasuna Le'HaRamban".
I seem to have found one at some point in time and printed it out (picture below). (However, I might have gotten it from my friend's ...
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What's the difference between two potential (כוחניים) maters the Yuly and the second
I read in the Abarbanel on Bereishit 1:1,quoting the Ramban, that on the first day Hashem created two types of primordial matter:
הראשון לבד שני חמרים מבלי צורה כוחניים בטבעם כענין ההיולי הראשון ...
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What does בנחת mean in the Igeres HaRamban?
The beginning of the Igeres HaRamban says:
תִּתְנַהֵג תָּמִיד לְדַבֵּר כָּל דְּבָרֶיךָ בְּנַחַת, לְכָל אָדָם וּבְכָל עֵת, וּבַזֶּה תִּנָּצֵל מִן הַכַּעַס, שֶׁהִיא מִדָּה רָעָה לְהַחְטִיא בְּנֵי ...
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The Ramban's explanation of "You shall be holy"
In the Torah, God says:
קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
-- You shall be holy, because I, your God יהוה, am holy. [Lev. 19:2]
The Ramban famously explained that this ...
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Ramban - Every sin deserves more suffering than Iyov received
Where does the Ramban say that in reality we deserve more suffering than Iyov received for every sin we do and it is only because of Hashem's incredible mercy that we don't get anywhere near what we ...
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What are the "books of experiments" the Ramban refers to when noting a infant which nurses from a pig will become a leper?
The Ramban in Leviticus 11:3 writes:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
(Partial Quote)
וראיתי בקצת ספרי הנסיונות שחלב החזיר אם ינק היונק ממנו יהיה אותו הנער מצורע
I saw in some of the "books of ...
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Rambam versus Ramban on Maccabees' taking the kingship from Yehuda
The Ramban (Nahmanides) in Parshas Vayachi says that the the Maccabees' children where killed out because they took the kingship from Shevet Yehuda. I was told (in the name of Reb Solovechick) the ...
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What is Ramban's reasoning regarding charging interest to a non-Jew?
Sefer Hachinuch here writes that Ramban holds that when the Torah says you should charge interest to a non-Jew, it means that you can, not that you must. However, we already know that we can charge a ...
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Quote from Ramban, Shemos 6:2 -- where did Ramban hint?
Ramban explains the various names of Hashem and levels of prophetic revelation (explaining pessukim 2-4 all in one comment). Right before the end of this section (paragraph 4 if using HaMeor layout) ...
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Why take the Eitz HaDaas on Sukkos?
The Ramban (Vayikra 23:40) writes
ועל דרך האמת "פרי עץ הדר" הוא הפרי שבו רוב התאוה ובו חטא אדם הראשון
שנאמר (בראשית ג ו) ותרא האשה כי טוב העץ למאכל וכי תאוה הוא לעינים
ונחמד העץ להשכיל ותקח ...
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Elisha Ben Abuya inferences are Apikorsut or true fundamentals?
In his introduction to chapter Chelek, Maimonides stated thirteen principles of faith (or fundments of religion).
The third principle is to exclude any materiality or similarity to materiality from ...
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