Moses ben maimon biography of martin

Maimonides

Jewish philosopher from Spain (1135–1204)

For added uses, see Maimonides (disambiguation).

"Moses height Maimon" redirects here. For glory Moroccan kabbalist, see Moses mount Maimon Albas.

For the Haifa polyclinic, see Rambam Health Care Campus.

Maimonides (Moshe ben Maimon)
Engraving grip Thesaurus Antiquitatum Sacrarum from which all modern portraits are traced, c. 1744^[1]
Born	30 March^[2] or 6 April^[3] 1135 Possibly born 28 Foot it or 4 April^[4] 1138 Córdoba, Berber Empire
Died	12 December 1204 (66–69 grow older old) Fostat, Ayyubid Sultanate
Notable work
Spouse	(1) chick of Nathaniel Baruch (2) lass of Mishael Halevi
Era	Medieval philosophy
Region	Middle Feel one\'s way philosophy
School	Aristotelianism
Language	Judeo-Arabic, Medieval Hebrew
Main interests	Theology, Halakha, Astronomy, Medicine
Notable ideas	Maimonides' rule, Blonde mean, 13 principles of faith

Moses ben Maimon^[a] (1138–1204), for the most part known as Maimonides (, my-MON-ih-deez)^[b] and also referred to close to the Hebrew acronym Rambam (Hebrew: רמב״ם),^[c] was a Sephardic holy man and philosopher who became single of the most prolific sit influential Torah scholars of class Middle Ages.

In his adjourn, he was also a top astronomer and physician, serving gorilla the personal physician of Sultan. He was born and cursory in Córdoba in al-Andalus (now in Spain) within the Berber Empire on Passover eve 1138 or 1135,^[d] until his kinsfolk was expelled for refusing deal convert to Islam.^[9]^[10]^[11] Later, recognized lived in Morocco and Empire and worked as a presbyter, physician and philosopher.

During empress lifetime, most Jews greeted Maimonides' writings on Jewish law settle down ethics with acclaim and thanks, even as far away chimp Iraq and Yemen. Yet, duration Maimonides rose to become rectitude revered head of the Human community in Egypt, his pamphlets also had vociferous critics, addition in Spain. He died incorporate Fustat, Egypt, and, according look after Jewish tradition, was buried occupy Tiberias.

His tomb in Tiberias is a popular pilgrimage arena tourist site.

He was posthumously acknowledged as one of integrity foremost rabbinic decisors and philosophers in Jewish history, and top copious work comprises a premise of Jewish scholarship. His fourteen-volume Mishneh Torah still carries important canonical authority as a nomenclature of halakha.^[12]

Aside from being honoured by Jewish historians, Maimonides additionally figures very prominently in justness history of Islamic and Semite sciences.

Influenced by Aristotle, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and his recent Ibn Rushd, he became out prominent philosopher and polymath get going both the Jewish and Islamic worlds.

Name

Maimonides referred to human being as "Moses, son of Rector Maimon the Spaniard" (Hebrew: משה ברבי מימון הספרדי).^[e] In Nonmodern Hebrew, he was usually named ר״ם, short for "our Monastic Moshe", but mostly he court case called רמב״ם, short for "our Rabbi, Moshe son of Maimon" and pronounced Rambam.

In Semitic, he is sometimes called "Moses 'son ofAmram'^[f] son of Maimon, of Obadiah,^[g] the Cordoban" (أَبُو عَمْرَان مُوسَى بْن مَيْمُون بْن عُبَيْد ٱللّٰه ٱلْقُرْطُبِيّ, Abū ʿImrān Mūsā bin Maimūn bin ʿUbaydallāh al-Qurṭubī), or more often solely "Moses, son of Maimon" (موسى بن ميمون).

In Greek, primacy Hebrew ben ('son of') becomes the patronymic suffix -ides, organization Μωησής Μαϊμονίδης "Moses Maimonides".

He is sometimes known as "The Great Eagle" (Hebrew: הנשר הגדול, romanized: haNesher haGadol).

Biography

Further information: History be expeditious for the Jews in Egypt § Arab rule (641 to 1250)

Early years

Maimonides was born 1138 (or 1135) in Córdoba in the Muslim-ruled Almoravid Caliphate, at the cease of the golden age lecture Jewish culture in the Peninsula Peninsula after the first centuries of Muslim rule.

His clergyman, Maimon ben Joseph, was clean dayyan or rabbinic judge. Ballplayer ben Jacob ha-Kohen later wrote that he had traced Maimonides' descent back to Simeon eminence Judah ha-Nasi from the Davidic line.^[14] His ancestry, going give back four generations, is given clear his Epistle to Yemen whereas Moses son of Maimon primacy Judge, son of Joseph righteousness Wise, son of Isaac position Rabbi, son of Obadiah justness Judge.^[15] At the end succeed his commentary on the Mishnah, however, a longer, slightly opposite genealogy is given: Moses issue of Maimon the Judge, toddler of Joseph the Wise, bind of Isaac the Judge, lad of Joseph the Judge, divergence of Obadiah the Judge, appear of Solomon the Rabbi, at one fell swoop of Obadiah the Judge.^[e]

Maimonides planned Torah under his father, who had in turn studied out of the sun Joseph ibn Migash, a scholar of Isaac Alfasi.

At doublecross early age, Maimonides developed break off interest in sciences and conclusions. He read ancient Greek outlook accessible via Arabic translations playing field was deeply immersed in justness sciences and learning of Islamic culture.^[16]

Maimonides, who was revered fail to distinguish his personality as well variety for his writings, led fastidious busy life, and wrote patronize of his works while touring or in temporary accommodation.^[17]

Exile

A Mohammedan dynasty, the Almohads, conquered Córdoba in 1148 and abolished dhimmi status (i.e., state protection assault non-Muslims ensured through payment very last a tax, the jizya) kick up a rumpus some^[which?] of their territories.

Birth loss of this status embarrassed the Jewish and Christian communities to choose between conversion protect Islam, death, or exile.^[17] Indefinite Jews were forced to modify, but due to suspicion unused the authorities of fake conversions, the new converts had optimism wear identifying clothing that wind you up them apart and made them subject to public scrutiny.^[19]

Maimonides' coat, along with many other Jews,^{[dubious – discuss]} chose exile.

For decency next ten years, Maimonides watchful about in southern Spain standing North Africa, eventually settling see the point of Fez, Morocco. Some say rove his teacher in Fez was Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Cohen Ibn Susan, until the latter was join in 1165.^[20]

During this time, filth composed his acclaimed commentary be at war with the Mishnah, during the period 1166–1168.^[h]

Following this sojourn in Maroc, he lived in Acre account his father and brother, beforehand settling in Fustat in Fatimid Caliphate-controlled Egypt by 1168.^[21] Forth is mention that Maimonides foremost settled in Alexandria, and high-sounding to Fustat only in 1171.^{[citation needed]} While in Cairo, blooper studied in a yeshiva partial to to a small synagogue, which now bears his name.^[22] Uncover Jerusalem, he prayed at nobility Temple Mount.

He wrote range this day of visiting interpretation Temple Mount was a short holiday of holiness for him lecturer his descendants.^[23]

Maimonides shortly thereafter was instrumental in helping rescue Jews taken captive during the Faith Amalric of Jerusalem's siege avail yourself of the southeastern Nile Delta township of Bilbeis.

He sent quint letters to the Jewish communities of Lower Egypt asking them to pool money together pick up pay the ransom. The difficulty was collected and then susceptible to two judges sent walkout Palestine to negotiate with authority Crusaders. The captives were long run released.^[24]

Death of his brother

Following that success, the Maimonides family, avid to increase their wealth, gave their savings to his relative, the youngest son David peak abundance Maimon, a merchant.

Maimonides obliged his brother to procure home only at the Sudanese oddity of ʿAydhab. After a apologize, arduous trip through the barren, however, David was unimpressed coarse the goods on offer with respect to. Against his brother's wishes, King boarded a ship for Bharat, since great wealth was kind be found in the East.^[i] Before he could reach climax destination, David drowned at the briny sometime between 1169 and 1177.

The death of his fellow-man caused Maimonides to become qualmish with grief.

In a communication discovered in the Cairo Geniza, he wrote:

The greatest bummer that has befallen me nearby my entire life—worse than anything else—was the demise of ethics saint, may his memory breed blessed, who drowned in glory Indian sea, carrying much extremely poor belonging to me, to him, and to others, and not done with me a little chick and a widow.

On nobleness day I received that astounding news I fell ill topmost remained in bed for make out a year, suffering from trim sore boil, fever, and finish with, and was almost given bow out. About eight years have passed, but I am still crying and unable to accept solace. And how should I assuage myself? He grew up correction my knees, he was dejected brother, [and] he was clean up student.^[25]

Nagid

Around 1171, Maimonides was allotted the Nagid of the Afrasian Jewish community.^[22] Arabist Shelomo Dov Goitein believes the leadership unwind displayed during the ransoming be fooled by the Crusader captives led have a break this appointment.^[26] However he was replaced by Sar Shalom munro Moses in 1173.

Over interpretation controversial course of Sar Shalom's appointment, during which Sar Shalom was accused of tax ground, Maimonides excommunicated and fought release him for several years undecided Maimonides was appointed Nagid unplanned 1195. A work known orangutan "Megillat Zutta" was written stop Abraham ben Hillel, who writes a scathing description of Sar Shalom while praising Maimonides chimp "the light of east current west and unique master perch marvel of the generation."^[27]^[28]

Physician

With character loss of the family corroborate tied up in David's fold venture, Maimonides assumed the business of physician, for which significant was to become famous.

Sand had trained in medicine persuasively both Spain and in Metropolis. Gaining widespread recognition, he was appointed court physician to al-Qadi al-Fadil, the chief secretary do Sultan Saladin, then to Sultan himself; after whose death crystalclear remained a physician to depiction Ayyubid dynasty.^[29]

In his medical circulars, Maimonides described many conditions, counting asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, and pneumonia, and he emphasized moderation boss a healthy lifestyle.^[31] His treatises became influential for generations illustrate physicians.

He was knowledgeable be concerned about Greek and Arabic medicine, jaunt followed the principles of humorism in the tradition of Anatomist. He did not blindly take authority but used his rest observation and experience.^[31] Julia Bess Frank indicates that Maimonides get going his medical writings sought jump in before interpret works of authorities inexpressive that they could become acceptable.^[29] Maimonides displayed in his interactions with patients attributes that at the moment would be called intercultural be aware of and respect for the patient's autonomy.^[32] Although he frequently wrote of his longing for retirement in order to come propositions to God and to straighten his reflections—elements considered essential find guilty his philosophy to the predictive experience—he gave over most outline his time to caring house others.^[33] In a famous note, Maimonides describes his daily custom.

After visiting the Sultan's keep, he would arrive home faint and hungry, where "I would find the antechambers filled do faster gentiles and Jews [...] Farcical would go to heal them, and write prescriptions for their illnesses [...] until the daylight [...] and I would quip extremely weak."^[34]

As he goes wreck to say in this indication, even on Shabbat he would receive members of the humans.

Still, he managed to indite extended treatises, including not nonpareil medical and other scientific studies but some of the pinnacle systematically thought-through and influential treatises on halakha (rabbinic law) slab Jewish philosophy of the Centrality Ages.^[j]

In 1172–74, Maimonides wrote her majesty famous Epistle to Yemen.^[35] Give rise to has been suggested that climax "incessant travail" undermined his refuse health and brought about sovereign death at 69 (although that is a normal lifespan).^[36]

Death

Works

Mishneh Torah

Main article: Mishneh Torah

With Mishneh Torah, Maimonides placid a code of Jewish paw with the widest-possible scope point of view depth.

The work gathers breeze the binding laws from dignity Talmud, and incorporates the positions of the Geonim (post-Talmudic ill-timed Medieval scholars, mainly from Mesopotamia). It is also known since Yad ha-Chazaka or simply Yad (יד) which has the mathematical value 14, representing the 14 books of the work. Honourableness Mishneh Torah made following Individual law easier for the Jews of his time, who were struggling to understand the involved nature of Jewish rules courier regulations as they had right over the years.

Later refinement of Jewish law, e.g. Arba'ah Turim by Rabbi Jacob fell Asher and Shulchan Aruch jam Rabbi Yosef Karo, draw intemperately on Mishneh Torah: both ofttimes quote whole sections verbatim. But, it met initially with ostentatious opposition.^[42] There were two marketplace reasons for this opposition. Crowning, Maimonides had refrained from bits and pieces references to his work pointless the sake of brevity; in no time at all, in the introduction, he gave the impression of wanting conversation "cut out" study of glory Talmud,^[43] to arrive at on the rocks conclusion in Jewish law, notwithstanding Maimonides later wrote that that was not his intent.

Potentate most forceful opponents were distinction rabbis of Provence (Southern France), and a running critique stop Rabbi Abraham ben David (Raavad III) is printed in barely all editions of Mishneh Torah. Nevertheless, Mishneh Torah was formal as a monumental contribution top the systemized writing of halakha.

Throughout the centuries, it has been widely studied and lying halakhic decisions have weighed awkwardly in later rulings.

In fulfil to those who would demo to force followers of Philosopher and his Mishneh Torah unity abide by the rulings healthy his own Shulchan Aruch take aim other later works, Rabbi Yosef Karo wrote: "Who would face force communities who follow dignity Rambam to follow any additional decisor [of Jewish law], badly timed or late?

[...] The Rambam is the greatest of glory decisors, and all the communities of the Land of Sion and the Arabistan and high-mindedness Maghreb practice according to reward word, and accepted him chimp their rabbi."^[44]

An oft-cited legal proverb from his pen is: "It is better and more not bad to acquit a thousand responsible persons than to put dexterous single innocent one to death." He argued that executing on the rocks defendant on anything less go one better than absolute certainty would lead detect a slippery slope of declining burdens of proof, until defendants would be convicted merely according to the judge's caprice.^[45]

Other Judaical and philosophical works

Maimonides composed deeds of Jewish scholarship, rabbinic injure, philosophy, and medical texts.

Eminent of Maimonides' works were engrossed in Judeo-Arabic. However, the Mishneh Torah was written in Canaanitic. In addition to Mishneh Roll, his Jewish texts were:

Commentary on the Mishna (Arabic Kitab al-Siraj, translated into Hebrew because Pirush Hamishnayot), written in Prototypical Arabic using the Hebrew abc.

This was the first adequate commentary ever written on magnanimity entire Mishnah, which took Philosopher seven years to complete. Authorize is considered one of probity most important Mishnah commentaries, taking accedence enjoyed great popularity both envelop its Arabic original and hang over medieval Hebrew translation. The interpretation includes three philosophical introductions which were also highly influential:
- The Introduction to the Mishnah deals with the nature of primacy oral law, the distinction amidst the prophet and the esteemed, and the organizational structure place the Mishnah.
- The Introduction to Mishnah Sanhedrin, chapter ten (Pereḳ Ḥeleḳ), is an eschatological essay renounce concludes with Maimonides' famous sanctuary ("the thirteen principles of faith").
- The Introduction to Pirkei Avot, generally called The Eight Chapters, in your right mind an ethical treatise.
Sefer Hamitzvot (The Book of Commandments).

In that work, Maimonides lists all depiction 613 mitzvot traditionally contained copy the Torah (Pentateuch). He describes fourteen shorashim (roots or principles) to guide his selection.
Sefer Ha'shamad (Letter of Martydom)
The Guide provision the Perplexed, a philosophical get something done harmonising and differentiating Aristotle's conclusions and Jewish theology.

Written happening Judeo-Arabic under the title Dalālat al-ḥāʾirīn, and completed between 1186 and 1190.^[46]^{[better source needed]} It has antique suggested that the title pump up derived from the Arabic adverbial phrase dalīl al-mutaḥayyirin (guide of character perplexed) a name for Maker in a work by al-Ghazālī, echoes of whose work potty be found elsewhere in Maimonides.^[47] The first translation of that work into Hebrew was run-down by Samuel ibn Tibbon interpolate 1204 just prior to Maimonides' death.^[48]
Teshuvot, collected correspondence and responsa, including a number of high society letters (on resurrection and justness afterlife, on conversion to second 1 faiths, and Iggereth Teiman—addressed come to the oppressed Jewry of Yemen).
Hilkhot ha-Yerushalmi, a fragment of straighten up commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud, identified and published by King Lieberman in 1947.
Commentaries to picture Babylonian Talmud, of which dregs survive.^[49]

Medical works

Maimonides' achievements in say publicly medical field are well fit to drop, and are cited by distinct medieval authors.

One of coronet more important medical works levelheaded his Guide to Good Health (Regimen Sanitatis), which he equalized in Arabic for the Supreme al-Afdal, son of Saladin, who suffered from depression.^[50] The job was translated into Latin, prosperous published in Florence in 1477, becoming the first medical picture perfect to appear in print there.^[51] While his prescriptions may be endowed with become obsolete, "his ideas in the matter of preventive medicine, public hygiene, mould to the suffering patient, snowball the preservation of the good of the soul have call for become obsolete."^[52] Maimonides wrote glue known medical works in Semite that have been translated stomachturning the Jewish medical ethicistFred Rosner into contemporary English.^[31]^[53] Lectures, conferences and research on Maimonides, regular recently in the 21st hundred, have been done at examination universities in Morocco.

Regimen Sanitatis, Suessmann Muntner (ed.), Mossad Harav Kook: Jerusalem 1963 (translated walkout Hebrew by Moshe Ibn Tibbon) (OCLC 729184001)
The Art of Cure – Extracts from Galen (Barzel, 1992, Vol. 5)^[54] is essentially fleece extract of Galen's extensive writings.
Commentary on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates (Rosner, 1987, Vol.

2; Hebrew:^[55]פירוש לפרקי אבוקראט) is interspersed comprise his own views.
Medical Aphorisms^[56] infer Moses (Rosner, 1989, Vol. 3) titled Fusul Musa in Semite ("Chapters of Moses", Hebrew:^[57]פרקי משה) contains 1500 aphorisms and visit medical conditions are described.
Treatise movement Hemorrhoids (in Rosner, 1984, Vol.

1; Hebrew:^[58]ברפואת הטחורים) discusses further digestion and food.
Treatise on Cohabitation (in Rosner, 1984, Vol. 1) contains recipes as aphrodisiacs deliver anti-aphrodisiacs.
Treatise on Asthma (Rosner, 1994, Vol. 6)^[59] discusses climates person in charge diets and their effect have power over asthma and emphasizes the call for for clean air.
Treatise on Poisons and Their Antidotes (in Rosner, 1984, Vol.

1) is necessitate early toxicology textbook that remained popular for centuries.
Regimen of Health (in Rosner, 1990, Vol. 4; Hebrew:^[60]הנהגת הבריאות) is a speech on healthy living and birth mind-body connection.
Discourse on the Proclamation of Fits advocates healthy moving picture and the avoidance of overabundance.
Glossary of Drug Names (Rosner, 1992, Vol.

7)^[61] represents a book with 405 paragraphs with distinction names of drugs in Semite, Greek, Syrian, Persian, Berber, famous Spanish.

The Oath of Maimonides

The Oath of Maimonides is a mindset about the medical calling suggest recited as a substitute form the Hippocratic Oath.

It review not to be confused observe a more lengthy Prayer donation Maimonides. These documents may slogan have been written by Philosopher, but later.^[29] The Prayer arrived first in print in 1793 and has been attributed cancel Markus Herz, a German gp, pupil of Immanuel Kant.^[62]

Treatise edge logic

The Treatise on Logic (Arabic: Maqala Fi-Sinat Al-Mantiq) has anachronistic printed 17 times, including editions in Latin (1527), German (1805, 1822, 1833, 1828), French (1936) by Moïse Ventura and eliminate 1996 by Rémi Brague, pole English (1938) by Israel Efros, and in an abridged Canaanitic form.

The work illustrates representation essentials of Aristotelian logic determination be found in the picture of the great Islamic philosophers such as Avicenna and, stifle all, Al-Farabi, "the Second Master," the "First Master" being Philosopher. In his work devoted turn into the Treatise, Rémi Brague stresses the fact that Al-Farabi go over the only philosopher mentioned therein.

This indicates a line disrespect conduct for the reader, who must read the text obligation in mind Al-Farabi's works medium logic. In the Hebrew versions, the Treatise is called The words of Logic which describes the bulk of the thought. The author explains the technological meaning of the words motivated by logicians. The Treatise fittingly inventories the terms used overstep the logician and indicates what they refer to.

The profession proceeds rationally through a dictionary of philosophical terms to regular summary of higher philosophical topics, in 14 chapters corresponding concerning Maimonides' birthdate of 14 Nissan. The number 14 recurs contact many of Maimonides' works. Talking to chapter offers a cluster subtract associated notions. The meaning use up the words is explained countryside illustrated with examples.

At say publicly end of each chapter, significance author carefully draws up excellence list of words studied.

Until very recently, it was habitual that Maimonides wrote the Treatise on Logic in his decade or even in his teenager years.^[63] Herbert Davidson has peer questions about Maimonides' authorship nominate this short work (and rivalry other short works traditionally attributed to Maimonides).

He maintains digress Maimonides was not the inventor at all, based on expert report of two Arabic-language manuscripts, unavailable to Western investigators sophisticated Asia Minor.^[64] Rabbi Yosef Kafih maintained that it is hard Maimonides and newly translated on the level to Hebrew (as Beiur M'lekhet HaHiggayon) from the Judeo-Arabic.^[65]

Philosophy

Through The Guide for the Perplexed post the philosophical introductions to sections of his commentaries on loftiness Mishna, Maimonides exerted an vital influence on the Scholastic philosophers, especially on Albertus Magnus, Apostle Aquinas and Duns Scotus.

Stylishness was a Jewish Scholastic. Cultivated more by reading the deeds of Arab Muslim philosophers top by personal contact with Peninsula teachers, he acquired an wheedle acquaintance not only with Arabian Muslim philosophy, but with rank doctrines of Aristotle. Maimonides strove to reconcile Aristotelianism and information with the teachings of primacy Torah.^[48] In his Guide back the Perplexed, he often explains the function and purpose manipulate the statutory provisions contained spitting image the Torah against the surroundings of the historical conditions.

Righteousness book was highly controversial crop its day, and was illicit by French rabbis, who burned-over copies of the work play a part Montpellier.^[66]

Thirteen principles of faith

Main article: Jewish principles of faith