Maimonides' philosophical treatise on Judaism takes a rationalist perspective while embracing the Jewish mystical tradition, albeit in a limited way. The first of the 3 books examines the attributes of God and rejects the trend toward anthropomorphizing Him. Maimonides stresses the danger of exposing the uneducated to mysticism; a broad knowledge of Torah and other texts, as well as an understanding of tradition, are necessary to prevent inadvertent heresy. The second book is concerned with the physical aspects of the universe and the notion of prophecy, and the third includes an explication of the book of Ezekiel as well as a discussion of the 613 mitzvot, or commandments, found in the Pentateuch. Excerpt from Moses Maimonides' Doctor Perplexorum [Guide for the Perplexed; Moreh Nevuchim; Dalalat al-Ha-irin], which includes both a Hebrew translation by Moses ibn Tibbon, as well as a German translation of the Hebrew version
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