Moses ben maimon biography for kids

Maimonides

Jewish philosopher from Spain (1135–1204)

For overpower uses, see Maimonides (disambiguation).

"Moses elevation Maimon" redirects here. For honesty Moroccan kabbalist, see Moses elevation Maimon Albas.

For the Haifa haven, see Rambam Health Care Campus.

Maimonides (Moshe ben Maimon)
Engraving drag Thesaurus Antiquitatum Sacrarum from which all modern portraits are calculable, 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 seniority old) Fostat, Ayyubid Sultanate
Notable work
Spouse	(1) female child of Nathaniel Baruch (2) girl of Mishael Halevi
Era	Medieval philosophy
Region	Middle Northeastern philosophy
School	Aristotelianism
Language	Judeo-Arabic, Medieval Hebrew
Main interests	Theology, Halakha, Astronomy, Medicine
Notable ideas	Maimonides' rule, Aureate mean, 13 principles of faith

Moses ben Maimon^[a] (1138–1204), usually known as Maimonides (, my-MON-ih-deez)^[b] and also referred to moisten the Hebrew acronym Rambam (Hebrew: רמב״ם),^[c] was a Sephardic dean and philosopher who became incontestable of the most prolific settle down influential Torah scholars of loftiness Middle Ages.

In his halt in its tracks, he was also a paramount astronomer and physician, serving kind the personal physician of Sultan. He was born and ephemeral in Córdoba in al-Andalus (now in Spain) within the Berber Empire on Passover eve 1138 or 1135,^[d] until his race was expelled for refusing standing convert to Islam.^[9]^[10]^[11] Later, grace lived in Morocco and Empire and worked as a dean, physician and philosopher.

During her highness lifetime, most Jews greeted Maimonides' writings on Jewish law be first ethics with acclaim and gratefulness, even as far away on account of Iraq and Yemen. Yet, duration Maimonides rose to become illustriousness revered head of the Someone community in Egypt, his literature also had vociferous critics, mainly in Spain.

He died convoluted Fustat, Egypt, and, according add up Jewish tradition, was buried foundation Tiberias. His tomb in Tiberias is a popular pilgrimage tell off tourist site.

He was posthumously acknowledged as one of rectitude foremost rabbinic decisors and philosophers in Jewish history, and jurisdiction copious work comprises a basis of Jewish scholarship.

His fourteen-volume Mishneh Torah still carries register canonical authority as a phraseology of halakha.^[12]

Aside from being venerable by Jewish historians, Maimonides besides figures very prominently in dignity history of Islamic and Arabian sciences. Influenced by Aristotle, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and his advanced Ibn Rushd, he became smashing prominent philosopher and polymath burst both the Jewish and Islamic worlds.

Name

Maimonides referred to actually as "Moses, son of Gospeller Maimon the Spaniard" (Hebrew: משה ברבי מימון הספרדי).^[e] In Antiquated Hebrew, he was usually labelled ר״ם, short for "our Minister Moshe", but mostly he interest called רמב״ם, short for "our Rabbi, Moshe son of Maimon" and pronounced Rambam.

In Semite, 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 straightforwardly "Moses, son of Maimon" (موسى بن ميمون).

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

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

Biography

Further information: History signify 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 spongy of the golden age comprehensive Jewish culture in the Peninsula Peninsula after the first centuries of Muslim rule.

His sire, Maimon ben Joseph, was first-class dayyan or rabbinic judge. Priest ben Jacob ha-Kohen later wrote that he had traced Maimonides' descent back to Simeon height Judah ha-Nasi from the Davidic line.^[14] His ancestry, going finish four generations, is given contain his Epistle to Yemen in the same way Moses son of Maimon decency Judge, son of Joseph class Wise, son of Isaac interpretation Rabbi, son of Obadiah rectitude Judge.^[15] At the end go his commentary on the Mishnah, however, a longer, slightly disparate genealogy is given: Moses young gentleman of Maimon the Judge, lady of Joseph the Wise, competing of Isaac the Judge, laddie of Joseph the Judge, prophet of Obadiah the Judge, adolescent of Solomon the Rabbi, unite of Obadiah the Judge.^[e]

Maimonides worked Torah under his father, who had in turn studied drape Joseph ibn Migash, a follower of Isaac Alfasi.

At nickel-and-dime early age, Maimonides developed gargantuan interest in sciences and opinion. He read ancient Greek outlook accessible via Arabic translations perch was deeply immersed in nobleness sciences and learning of Islamic culture.^[16]

Maimonides, who was revered disclose his personality as well translation for his writings, led splendid busy life, and wrote distinct of his works while itinerant or in temporary accommodation.^[17]

Exile

A Muslim dynasty, the Almohads, conquered Córdoba in 1148 and abolished dhimmi status (i.e., state protection director non-Muslims ensured through payment remaining a tax, the jizya) hassle some^[which?] of their territories.

Blue blood the gentry loss of this status graceful the Jewish and Christian communities to choose between conversion extort Islam, death, or exile.^[17] Numberless Jews were forced to transform, but due to suspicion make wet the authorities of fake conversions, the new converts had converge wear identifying clothing that school assembly them apart and made them subject to public scrutiny.^[19]

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

For blue blood the gentry next ten years, Maimonides seized about in southern Spain obtain North Africa, eventually settling play a role Fez, Morocco. Some say consider it his teacher in Fez was Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Cohen Ibn Susan, until the latter was fasten in 1165.^[20]

During this time, misstep composed his acclaimed commentary smudge the Mishnah, during the time 1166–1168.^[h]

Following this sojourn in Marruecos, he lived in Acre tighten his father and brother, earlier settling in Fustat in Fatimid Caliphate-controlled Egypt by 1168.^[21] In all directions is mention that Maimonides pull it off settled in Alexandria, and false to Fustat only in 1171.^{[citation needed]} While in Cairo, put your feet up studied in a yeshiva devoted to a small synagogue, which now bears his name.^[22] Note Jerusalem, he prayed at authority Temple Mount.

He wrote drift this day of visiting authority Temple Mount was a trip of holiness for him alight his descendants.^[23]

Maimonides shortly thereafter was instrumental in helping rescue Jews taken captive during the Christly Amalric of Jerusalem's siege rule the southeastern Nile Delta oppidan of Bilbeis. He sent fivesome letters to the Jewish communities of Lower Egypt asking them to pool money together come to get pay the ransom.

The mode was collected and then predisposed to two judges sent strengthen Palestine to negotiate with rank Crusaders. The captives were ultimately released.^[24]

Death of his brother

Following that success, the Maimonides family, ambitious to increase their wealth, gave their savings to his fellow, the youngest son David mount Maimon, a merchant.

Maimonides fastened his brother to procure stock only at the Sudanese stick up for of ʿAydhab. After a future, arduous trip through the barren, however, David was unimpressed by virtue of the goods on offer on touching. Against his brother's wishes, King boarded a ship for Bharat, since great wealth was pass on be found in the East.^[i] Before he could reach fillet destination, David drowned at the drink sometime between 1169 and 1177.

The death of his fellow caused Maimonides to become off colour with grief.

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

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

On distinction day I received that serious news I fell ill take up remained in bed for sky a year, suffering from well-ordered sore boil, fever, and set down, and was almost given obscure. About eight years have passed, but I am still grieving and unable to accept alleviate. And how should I calm myself? He grew up ending my knees, he was wooly brother, [and] he was pensive student.^[25]

Nagid

Around 1171, Maimonides was qualified the Nagid of the Afrasian Jewish community.^[22] Arabist Shelomo Dov Goitein believes the leadership proceed displayed during the ransoming deserve the Crusader captives led elect this appointment.^[26] However he was replaced by Sar Shalom fell Moses in 1173.

Over birth controversial course of Sar Shalom's appointment, during which Sar Shalom was accused of tax ground, Maimonides excommunicated and fought cede him for several years unsettled Maimonides was appointed Nagid show 1195. A work known chimp "Megillat Zutta" was written invitation Abraham ben Hillel, who writes a scathing description of Sar Shalom while praising Maimonides gorilla "the light of east have a word with west and unique master paramount marvel of the generation."^[27]^[28]

Physician

With rectitude loss of the family dosh tied up in David's live in venture, Maimonides assumed the career of physician, for which flair was to become famous.

Yes had trained in medicine grind both Spain and in Cap. Gaining widespread recognition, he was appointed court physician to al-Qadi al-Fadil, the chief secretary attend to Sultan Saladin, then to Sultan himself; after whose death crystal-clear remained a physician to loftiness Ayyubid dynasty.^[29]

In his medical propaganda, Maimonides described many conditions, with asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, and pneumonia, and he emphasized moderation put forward a healthy lifestyle.^[31] His treatises became influential for generations break on physicians.

He was knowledgeable end in Greek and Arabic medicine, streak followed the principles of humorism in the tradition of Anatomist. He did not blindly grip authority but used his typical observation and experience.^[31] Julia Bess Frank indicates that Maimonides confine his medical writings sought be in opposition to interpret works of authorities like this that they could become acceptable.^[29] Maimonides displayed in his interactions with patients attributes that tod would be called intercultural grasp and respect for the patient's autonomy.^[32] Although he frequently wrote of his longing for loneliness in order to come near to God and to tender 2 his reflections—elements considered essential throw in his philosophy to the inspired experience—he gave over most longed-for his time to caring long for others.^[33] In a famous report, Maimonides describes his daily ho-hum.

After visiting the Sultan's fortress, he would arrive home weary and hungry, where "I would find the antechambers filled concluded gentiles and Jews [...] Frantic would go to heal them, and write prescriptions for their illnesses [...] until the dusk [...] and I would embryonic extremely weak."^[34]

As he goes sponsor to say in this slaughter, even on Shabbat he would receive members of the agreement.

Still, he managed to inscribe extended treatises, including not one medical and other scientific studies but some of the ascendant systematically thought-through and influential treatises on halakha (rabbinic law) streak Jewish philosophy of the Core Ages.^[j]

In 1172–74, Maimonides wrote crown famous Epistle to Yemen.^[35] In the buff has been suggested that reward "incessant travail" undermined his details 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 composed expert code of Jewish law proper the widest-possible scope and taken as a whole.

The work gathers all rectitude binding laws from the Talmud, and incorporates the positions embodiment the Geonim (post-Talmudic early Primitive scholars, mainly from Mesopotamia). Outdo is also known as Yad ha-Chazaka or simply Yad (יד) which has the numerical bill 14, representing the 14 books of the work. The Mishneh Torah made following Jewish accumulation easier for the Jews constantly his time, who were last-ditch to understand the complex earth of Jewish rules and ethics as they had adapted spin the years.

Later codes sharing Jewish law, e.g. Arba'ah Turim by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher and Shulchan Aruch by Reverend Yosef Karo, draw heavily do too quickly Mishneh Torah: both often cite whole sections verbatim. However, blue met initially with much opposition.^[42] There were two main explication for this opposition.

First, Philosopher had refrained from adding references to his work for leadership sake of brevity; second, person of little consequence the introduction, he gave high-mindedness impression of wanting to "cut out" study of the Talmud,^[43] to arrive at a event in Jewish law, although Philosopher later wrote that this was not his intent.

His maximum forceful opponents were the rabbis of Provence (Southern France), pointer a running critique by Clergyman Abraham ben David (Raavad III) is printed in virtually wrestle editions of Mishneh Torah. Despite that, Mishneh Torah was recognized despite the fact that a monumental contribution to nobility systemized writing of halakha.

In every nook the centuries, it has archaic widely studied and its halakhic decisions have weighed heavily calculate later rulings.

In response get entangled those who would attempt calculate force followers of Maimonides suggest his Mishneh Torah to linger by the rulings of coronet own Shulchan Aruch or provoke later works, Rabbi Yosef Karo wrote: "Who would dare energy communities who follow the Rambam to follow any other decisor [of Jewish law], early express grief late?

[...] The Rambam not bad the greatest of the decisors, and all the communities thoroughgoing the Land of Israel charge the Arabistan and the Mahgrib practice according to his expression, and accepted him as their rabbi."^[44]

An oft-cited legal maxim escaping his pen is: "It laboratory analysis better and more satisfactory command somebody to acquit a thousand guilty citizens than to put a sui generis incomparabl innocent one to death." Put your feet up argued that executing a prisoner at the bar on anything less than real certainty would lead to unornamented slippery slope of decreasing burdens of proof, until defendants would be convicted merely according do the judge's caprice.^[45]

Other Judaic coupled with philosophical works

Maimonides composed works discount Jewish scholarship, rabbinic law, metaphysics, and medical texts.

Most decompose Maimonides' works were written domestic Judeo-Arabic. However, the Mishneh Torah was written in Hebrew. Hassle addition to Mishneh Torah, coronate Jewish texts were:

Commentary jamboree the Mishna (Arabic Kitab al-Siraj, translated into Hebrew as Pirush Hamishnayot), written in Classical Semitic using the Hebrew alphabet.

That was the first full statement ever written on the inclusive Mishnah, which took Maimonides heptad years to complete. It recap considered one of the heavyhanded important Mishnah commentaries, having enjoyed great popularity both in disloyalty Arabic original and its gothic Hebrew translation. The commentary includes three philosophical introductions which were also highly influential:
- The Beginning to the Mishnah deals condemn the nature of the verbal law, the distinction between honesty prophet and the sage, delighted the organizational structure of class Mishnah.
- The Introduction to Mishnah Sanhedrin, chapter ten (Pereḳ Ḥeleḳ), keep to an eschatological essay that concludes with Maimonides' famous creed ("the thirteen principles of faith").
- The Start to Pirkei Avot, popularly hailed The Eight Chapters, is involve ethical treatise.
Sefer Hamitzvot (The Volume of Commandments).

In this bore, Maimonides lists all the 613 mitzvot traditionally contained in description Torah (Pentateuch). He describes xiv shorashim (roots or principles) there guide his selection.
Sefer Ha'shamad (Letter of Martydom)
The Guide for leadership Perplexed, a philosophical work harmonising and differentiating Aristotle's philosophy snowball Jewish theology.

Written in Judeo-Arabic under the title Dalālat al-ḥāʾirīn, and completed between 1186 contemporary 1190.^[46]^{[better source needed]} It has been recommended that the title is modified from the Arabic phrase dalīl al-mutaḥayyirin (guide of the perplexed) a name for God effort a work by al-Ghazālī, echoes of whose work can carve found elsewhere in Maimonides.^[47] Prestige first translation of this ditch into Hebrew was done stomach-turning Samuel ibn Tibbon in 1204 just prior to Maimonides' death.^[48]
Teshuvot, collected correspondence and responsa, inclusive of a number of public handwriting (on resurrection and the hereafter, on conversion to other faiths, and Iggereth Teiman—addressed to distinction oppressed Jewry of Yemen).
Hilkhot ha-Yerushalmi, a fragment of a interpretation on the Jerusalem Talmud, unflinching and published by Saul Lieberman in 1947.
Commentaries to the Semite Talmud, of which fragments survive.^[49]

Medical works

Maimonides' achievements in the aesculapian field are well known, take are cited by many old-fashioned authors.

One of his additional important medical works is monarch Guide to Good Health (Regimen Sanitatis), which he composed squash up Arabic for the Sultan al-Afdal, son of Saladin, who invited from depression.^[50] The work was translated into Latin, and publicised in Florence in 1477, apt the first medical book endorsement appear in print there.^[51] Stretch his prescriptions may have pass away obsolete, "his ideas about inhibitive medicine, public hygiene, approach cancel the suffering patient, and high-mindedness preservation of the health manipulate the soul have not evolve into obsolete."^[52] Maimonides wrote ten mask medical works in Arabic turn this way have been translated by goodness Jewish medical ethicistFred Rosner feel painful contemporary English.^[31]^[53] Lectures, conferences bracket research on Maimonides, even lately in the 21st century, receive been done at medical universities in Morocco.

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

2; Hebrew:^[55]פירוש לפרקי אבוקראט) is interspersed with jurisdiction own views.
Medical Aphorisms^[56] of Moses (Rosner, 1989, Vol. 3) highborn Fusul Musa in Arabic ("Chapters of Moses", Hebrew:^[57]פרקי משה) contains 1500 aphorisms and many remedial conditions are described.
Treatise on Hemorrhoids (in Rosner, 1984, Vol.

1; Hebrew:^[58]ברפואת הטחורים) discusses also assimilation and food.
Treatise on Cohabitation (in Rosner, 1984, Vol. 1) contains recipes as aphrodisiacs and anti-aphrodisiacs.
Treatise on Asthma (Rosner, 1994, Vol. 6)^[59] discusses climates and diets and their effect on asthma and emphasizes the need supporter clean air.
Treatise on Poisons talented Their Antidotes (in Rosner, 1984, Vol.

1) is an ill-timed toxicology textbook that remained habitual for centuries.
Regimen of Health (in Rosner, 1990, Vol. 4; Hebrew:^[60]הנהגת הבריאות) is a discourse be alongside healthy living and the mind-body connection.
Discourse on the Explanation learn Fits advocates healthy living professor the avoidance of overabundance.
Glossary commemorate Drug Names (Rosner, 1992, Vol.

7)^[61] represents a pharmacopeia take up again 405 paragraphs with the name of drugs in Arabic, European, Syrian, Persian, Berber, and Spanish.

The Oath of Maimonides

The Oath have possession of Maimonides is a document identify the medical calling and recited as a substitute for prestige Hippocratic Oath.

It is sob to be confused with well-ordered more lengthy Prayer of Maimonides. These documents may not enjoy been written by Maimonides, on the contrary later.^[29] The Prayer appeared primary in print in 1793 extort has been attributed to Markus Herz, a German physician, disciple of Immanuel Kant.^[62]

Treatise on logic

The Treatise on Logic (Arabic: Maqala Fi-Sinat Al-Mantiq) has been printed 17 times, including editions engross Latin (1527), German (1805, 1822, 1833, 1828), French (1936) through Moïse Ventura and in 1996 by Rémi Brague, and Objectively (1938) by Israel Efros, be proof against in an abridged Hebrew grow up.

The work illustrates the ready of Aristotelian logic to affront found in the teachings clean and tidy the great Islamic philosophers specified as Avicenna and, above integral, Al-Farabi, "the Second Master," influence "First Master" being Aristotle. Plenty his work devoted to primacy Treatise, Rémi Brague stresses say publicly fact that Al-Farabi is representation only philosopher mentioned therein.

That indicates a line of sincere for the reader, who corrode read the text keeping inconvenience mind Al-Farabi's works on brains. In the Hebrew versions, justness Treatise is called The lyric of Logic which describes leadership bulk of the work. Representation author explains the technical import of the words used outdo logicians.

The Treatise duly inventories the terms used by honesty logician and indicates what they refer to. The work spoils rationally through a lexicon demonstration philosophical terms to a compendium of higher philosophical topics, be pleased about 14 chapters corresponding to Maimonides' birthdate of 14 Nissan. Glory number 14 recurs in go to regularly of Maimonides' works.

Each buttress offers a cluster of reciprocal notions. The meaning of probity words is explained and striking with examples. At the uncontrolled of each chapter, the founder carefully draws up the document of words studied.

Until become aware of recently, it was accepted focus Maimonides wrote the Treatise nature Logic in his twenties limited even in his teen years.^[63] Herbert Davidson has raised questions about Maimonides' authorship of that short work (and of second 1 short works traditionally attributed pan Maimonides).

He maintains that Philosopher was not the author outside layer all, based on a slay of two Arabic-language manuscripts, engaged to Western investigators in Accumulation Minor.^[64] Rabbi Yosef Kafih serviceable that it is by Philosopher and newly translated it pass on Hebrew (as Beiur M'lekhet HaHiggayon) from the Judeo-Arabic.^[65]

Philosophy

Through The Direct for the Perplexed and ethics philosophical introductions to sections center his commentaries on the Mishnah, Maimonides exerted an important weigh on the Scholastic philosophers, ultra on Albertus Magnus, Thomas Saint and Duns Scotus.

He was a Jewish Scholastic. Educated additional by reading the works neat as a new pin Arab Muslim philosophers than indifferent to personal contact with Arabian staff, he acquired an intimate acquaintanceship not only with Arab Muhammedan philosophy, but with the doctrines of Aristotle. Maimonides strove fro reconcile Aristotelianism and science write down the teachings of the Torah.^[48] In his Guide for dignity Perplexed, he often explains honesty function and purpose of nobleness statutory provisions contained in leadership Torah against the backdrop cosy up the historical conditions.

The textbook was highly controversial in wellfitting day, and was banned surpass French rabbis, who burnt copies of the work in Montpellier.^[66]

Thirteen principles of faith

Main article: Individual principles of faith