Home -- Content: Series 7 (Laws) -- Translation: English -- Book: 1 (Tora) -- Part: 2 (Negative) -- Prohibition: 313 -- Text
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The Sharia of Moses in the TORA
Part 2 - The 365 Prohibitions of the Tora
313 - ADDING TO THE WRITTEN OR ORAL LAW
About the object of this commandment Maimonides says: “God knew that the judgments of the law will always require an extension in some cases and curtailment in others, according to the variety of places, events, and circumstances. He therefore cautioned against such increase and diminution… for constant changes would tend to disturb the whole system of the law, and would lead people to believe that the law is not of Divine origin. But permission is at the same time given to the wise men, i.e. the Great Court of every generation, to make fences around the judgments of the law for their protection, and to introduce bye-laws fences in order to ensure the keeping of the law… In the same manner, they have the power temporarily to dispense with some religious act prescribed in the law, or to allow that which is forbidden, if exceptional circumstances and events require it; but none of the laws can be abrogated permanently… By this method the law will remain perpetually the same, and will yet admit at all times and under all circumstances such temporary modifications as are indispensable.”*