Maimonides was faced with a difficult choice. Should he risk his position...and his life...in order to respond to the pleas from Yemen? Would his intervention really accomplish anything? He finally decided that he must save a Jewish community from physical and spiritual destruction, even at his own personal peril. In 1172, he wrote his Iggeret Teiman (Epistle to Yemen). He asked that it not be passed around in writing, but copies should be only in the hands of the rabbis, who will read them to the community. He deals with all three crises; the forced conversion that was going on, the "proofs" of a Jewish apostate in favor of Islam, and the claims of the false Messiah. He first urges his fellow Jews to be aware that all of their suffering is a preparation for the final Redemption. They must not lose their faith and hope. Although he enters into a polemic against both Christianity and Islam, his main thrust is that the Torah itself declares itself as eternal, never to be changed. Its laws are divine and immutable. What sense would it make to have statements to this effect contradicted by vague "hints"? Any gematria, or "hidden messages" in spelling that contradicted a Torah precept must be seen as illogical and plain wrong. It is a fact that over the centuries, many non-Jewish, and some downright pagan or superstitious ideas and practices have crept into Jewish folk religion. Maimonides fought these tooth and nail. How much more so for practices and ideas that openly contradict the Written and Oral Torahs? Therefore, the best refutation of other faiths is the Torah itself, rather than considering the other faiths' claims point by point., As to the Messiah, Maimonides lists certain conditions for even considering a person as a candidate for Mashiach. In order to accept him as definitely Masiach, he must accomplish several things; gather in the exiles, rebuild the Temple, and initiate World Peace. Barring these criteria, a claimant must be seen as a charlatan or a madman. Judaism has no concept of accepting someone "on faith".
His position on forced conversions was very brave and innovative. Jewish law and tradition dictate martyrdom when faced with the prospect of acknowledging idolatry. Was it necessary for those being coerced to accept Islam to die a martyr's death? Countless lives were at stake here. Maimonides makes clear that although he in no way accepts the tenets of Islam, nevertheless, it is anything but idolatry. In several of his works he acknowledges that Islam has a concept of the Unity of G-d "which is beyond reproach". He rails against those who claim otherwise, urging them not to make false accusations about others, merely because they make false accusations against us (especially the claim that we have falsified the Torah). I know that many of you will disagree. I see posts on Facebook every day to the contrary. Please do not debate with me, but take it up with Maimonides. He knew both Islam and Judaism far better than any of us. Therefore, conversion was preferable to death. Whatever mitzvot can be kept in secret must be done. Just as the regime had changed to an intolerant one, it would certainly change back before too long. At that time, they could openly return to Judaism. He did not make this concession to any other faith, as he considered Islam the only truly Monotheistic faith besides Judaism. (I have already written that there are other views which would extend this to additional faiths). With this approach, the Yemenite community was able to weather the storm. Judaism could, and did, survive. Superstitious use of Scripture was shown as a real and present danger, and crackpots were to be seen and branded as such. Maimonides was close with Saladin, and was able to get the orders of persecution rescinded. But the lasting effects of Iggeret Teiman were twofold. First, the ancient beliefs of Yemenite Jewry had been validated. He had confirmed their approach of faithfulness to sources, being rational and circumspect about revisionism. Second, these ideas became known and accepted throughout Middle Eastern Jewry, and served as a vital guide when persecution came.
As a tribute, the Yemenites added to the Kaddish prayer for some time "In your life time, in your days, in the life of all Israel, in the life of Our Teacher Moshe ben Maimon." Maimonides had saved them from needless martyrdom, and had further purified an already great tradition.
With time,other ideas came into the Yemenite community, and resulted in the formation of factions and strife, which still exist to this day. That will be my next post.