On Learning Rambam

The Mishneh Torah was not written only for great Torah scholars. Maimonides himself writes that he composed it in a clear unambiguous style for all Jews – “for small and great alike.”

The only concern is when it comes to deciding practical Jewish law: if a Jew today thinks he can resolve practical Jewish law just because he’s studied the Mishneh Torah, tell him simply that he may learn the Mishneh Torah, but he should never decide practical Jewish law on his own. If he wants to know the practical ruling to follow, he must consult a competent rabbi.

As for those who discourage the study of Mishneh Torah simply out of this fear that someone might decide practical law straight out of it – this very same concern applies also to the study of Mishna and to the study of Rabbi Yosef Caro’s Code of Jewish Law. In that case, they should also be arguing against the widespread study of Mishna and against the widespread study of the Code of Jewish Law – which would not only contradict Jewish custom, it would contradict the very survival of the Jewish people through the ages!