But long before the dissemination of the Zohar others have alluded to mankind\u2019s pivotal role in the universe. Rambam (1135-1204) said \u201cOne should consider himself as well as all the world as half meritorious and half culpable all year long. And [he should believe that] if he were to commit just one sin, he would incline himself and the entire world toward guilt and bring about destruction; and, contrarily, that if he were to fulfill just one mitzvah he would incline himself and the entire world toward merit and bring about salvation and redemption\u201d [1]. And R\u2019 Yoseph Gikatilla (1248-1323) spoke of the righteous as having \u201cthe ability to unite all the emanations, thus making peace between the upper and lower worlds\u201d and of wrongdoers having the ability to \u201cdestroy the world and ruin the order of creation\u201d [2].<\/p>\n
Notes:<\/p>\n
[1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hilchot<\/em> Teshuvah<\/em> 3:4; also see Kiddushin 41b.<\/p>\n [2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sha\u2019arei<\/em> Orah<\/em> 2.<\/p>\n (c) 2012 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" But long before the dissemination of the Zohar others have alluded to mankind\u2019s pivotal role in the universe. Rambam (1135-1204) said \u201cOne should consider himself as well as all the world as half meritorious and half culpable all year long. … Continue reading