Ramban Commentary Essay

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The Ramban’s relationship with kabbalah runs deep, but it is hidden in a subtle way that might not reveal itself to an untrained reader. This was intentional, of course. Since its inception, Jewish mysticism has always been an insider world of contemplative work. It is considered inappropriate for those not already perfectly learned in the Oral and Written Torah to even approach learning the kabbalah. The Ramban did not write “the kabbalah tells us,” for he wanted the kabbalistic nature of his insights to be subtle, and not boastful. Instead, specific sections of Ramban commentary that are from the kabbalah are given the prefix of “By the way of truth...” Every time a Ramban commentary begins in that manner, a kabbalistic insight is to follow. An example is the Ramban’s commentary on the blowing of the Shofar during the High Holidays, one of the most important times of year for the Jewish people. In his commentary on Vayikra 23:24, which states “a memorial of the terua,” the Ramban gives kabbalistic insight on the word terua, which is the sound created by the shofar-blower with the ram’s horn. Of course, the passage begins “By the way of truth,” and the Ramban says that the terua represents that which has stood by the Jewish people, and he quotes Tehillim 89:15, which states that …show more content…

Just as with everything else the Ramban wrote in his life, his Torah commentaries were created with the well-being of others foremost in his mind. The Rambam explicitly stated that he hoped his Torah commentaries would be learned by those who were unable to live in Israel, helping them continue to keep the commandments and honor God with their attention to his words. It will be informative and helpful to cover a few of the Ramban’s greatest commentaries on the Five Books of the

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