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Maggid Mishneh

Source: Halachipedia: Maggid Mishneh

Link: https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Maggid_Mishneh

Categories: Klalei Haposkim

Alt Names: Klalei HaMaggid Mishneh

Exported: 2025-12-30

  1. Rabbeinu Vidal De Tolouse wrote the classic commentary on the Rambam known as Maggid Mishneh.
  2. The Kenesset HaGedolah writes that wherever the Maggid Mishneh says he couldn't find a proof for the Rambam, he doesn't agree.¹ Some even say if he doesn't provide a proof, even without articulating that lack of finding, it's an indication of disagreement.²
  3. A contemporary of the Rivash³, the Maggid Mishneh's allegiance to the Rashba⁴ is indicative through his thorough familiarity with the Rashba's opinions.⁵ Therefore, when in doubt as to how to understand the Rashba's opinion, the Maggid Mishneh's understanding is a valuable and acceptable window to determining what the Rashba means.⁶ Some say the opposite is therefore a valuable tool of understanding the Maggid Mishneh, as well.⁷
  4. His tremendous dedication to elucidating the Rambam gives the Maggid Mishneh credence in deciding what the true explanation is when the Rambam's position is debatable, according to the Radbaz.⁸
  5. The Rivash posits that when the Maggid Mishneh refers to the Rambam as "HaMechaber" and not "Rabbenu," it indicates lack of satisfaction with the Rambam's position on his part,⁹ but the Chida argues that the verbiage is arbitrary.¹⁰
  6. The first three Perakim of Maggid Mishneh on Hilchot Gerushin (until Halacha 9) were not extant even in the times of the Maggid Mishneh himself; what we have printed was probably written by a student, not the Maggid Mishneh himself.¹¹
  7. He and the Ran refer to each other as "Yesh Mi SheKatav."¹²
  8. Maggid Mishneh doesn't usually refer to Perush HaMishnayot.¹³
  9. See Toldot Chachmei Yisrael (Shulman, vol. 3 page 137) for a humorous story about him and the Ritva.

References

¹: Yad Malachi (Klalei HaRav HaMaggid 1)

²: Matnat Yado fn. 1

³: Shu"t HaRivash Siman 473

⁴: Matnat Yado fn. 5 writes how the Radbaz claims he was a Talmid of the Rashba, but the Chidah argues the dates don't line up.

⁵: Shem HaGedolim (Gedolim, Vav 4)

⁶: Yad Malachi (Klalei HaRav HaMaggid 2)

⁷: Matnat Yado fn 3

⁸: Yad Malachi (Klalei HaRav HaMaggid 3), Shem HaGedolim (Gedolim, Vav 4)

⁹: Shu"t HaRivash Siman 168, Shu"t HaRashbetz vol. 4 Tur 3 Siman 2 end of s.v. ואין לומר, Yad Malachi (Klalei HaRav HaMaggid 4)

¹⁰: Shem HaGedolim (Gedolim, Vav 4). See Sdei Chemed (Klalei HaPoskim 7:1), Kovetz Ohr Yisrael (vol. 54 page 207), and Matnat Yado fn. 7 at length

¹¹: See the last line of Shu"t HaRivash Siman 117. The Kessef Mishneh (Hilchot Ishut 3:5) even refers to the commentary as the Mefaresh. Yad Malachi (Klalei HaRav HaMaggid 5)

¹²: Shem HaGedolim (Gedolim, Vav 4) citing Shu"t Maharikash Siman 113

¹³: Yad Malachi (Klalei HaTur 26) and Matnat Yado ad loc fn. 88