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[[Image:Maimonides.jpg|thumb|Maimonides - Autograph]]

[[Image:Maimonides.jpg|thumb|Maimonides - Autograph]]

Moses ben Maimon, '''Maimonides''' (Cordoba, [[Spain]] 1135 - Cairo, [[Egypt]] 1204) (Hebrew: Rambam), was a [[Jewish]] [[rabbi]], [[astronomy|astronomer]], and physician. He is regarded by the Jews as a great [[philosopher]], and called the "Lamp of [[Israel]]" and the "Eagle  of the Doctors"; he was a man of immense learning who expanded greatly upon interpretations of the [[Talmud]] (the source of much of Jewish [[law]]), and was physician to the [[Sultan]] of [[Egypt]].<ref>Interestingly, at various points during their history, the Islamic principalities of the near east allowed Jews to hold high office, ranging from personal physician (like Maimonides) to [[vizier]].  However, the tenure of Jews in such high-ranking positions tended to come in and out of vogue with the success of the [[Islam]]ic state; when the state suffered, the Jews would be blamed, face harsher discrimination, and at times be purged from government and killed.  For more information, please read ''Under Crescent and Cross: the Jews of the Middle Ages'', by Mark R. Cohen.</ref>  He taught the Jews to interpret their religion in the light of reason; he wrote a "Commentary on the [[Mishna]] and the Second Law," but his chief work is the "Moreh Nebochim," or "[[Guide of the Perplexed]]" (which had been written in Arabic). <ref>{{Nuttall|Maimonides, Moses}}</ref> The Mishneh Torah, his 14-volume compendium of Jewish law, established him as the leading rabbinic authority of his time and quite possibly of all time.<ref>[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/maimonides/ Maimonides]</ref> Maimonides also formulated a credo of Judaism expressed in thirteen articles of [[faith]].

Moses ben Maimon, '''Maimonides''' (Cordoba, [[Spain]] 1135 - Cairo, [[Egypt]] 1204) (Hebrew: Rambam), was a [[Jewish]] [[rabbi]], [[astronomy|astronomer]], and physician. He is regarded by the Jews as a great [[philosopher]], and called the "Lamp of [[Israel]]" and the "Eagle  of the Doctors"; he was a man of immense learning who expanded greatly upon interpretations of the [[Talmud]] (the source of much of Jewish [[law]]), and was physician to the [[Sultan]] of [[Egypt]].<ref>Interestingly, at various points during their history, the Islamic principalities of the near east allowed Jews to hold high office, ranging from personal physician (like Maimonides) to [[vizier]].  However, the tenure of Jews in such high-ranking positions tended to come in and out of vogue with the success of the [[Islam]]ic state; when the state suffered, the Jews would be blamed, face harsher discrimination, and at times be purged from government and killed.  For more information, please read ''Under Crescent and Cross: the Jews of the Middle Ages'', by Mark R. Cohen.</ref>  He taught the Jews to interpret their religion in the light of reason; he wrote a "Commentary on the [[Mishna]] and the Second Law," but his chief work is the "Moreh Nebochim," or "[[Guide of the Perplexed]]" (which had been written in Arabic).<ref>{{Nuttall|Maimonides, Moses}}</ref> The Mishneh Torah, his 14-volume compendium of Jewish law, established him as the leading rabbinic authority of his time and quite possibly of all time.<ref>[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/maimonides/ Maimonides]</ref> Maimonides also formulated a credo of Judaism expressed in thirteen articles of [[faith]].

::: ''"... no Israelite can have any private interview with me, except on the [[Sabbath]]. On that day the whole congregation, or at least the majority of the members, come to me after the morning service, when I instruct them as to their proceedings during the whole week; we study together a little until noon, when they depart. Some of them return, and read with me after the afternoon service until evening prayers. In this manner I spend that day."'' <ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Maimonides.html Maimonides/Rambam]</ref>

::: ''"... no Israelite can have any private interview with me, except on the [[Sabbath]]. On that day the whole congregation, or at least the majority of the members, come to me after the morning service, when I instruct them as to their proceedings during the whole week; we study together a little until noon, when they depart. Some of them return, and read with me after the afternoon service until evening prayers. In this manner I spend that day."'' <ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Maimonides.html Maimonides/Rambam]</ref>

He was renowned for his efforts to reach fair judgments. Maimonides also wrote medical treatises on a number of diseases and their cures.  

Maimonides was renowned for his efforts to reach fair judgments. He also wrote medical treatises on a number of diseases and their cures.  

Succeeding generations of philosophers wrote extensive commentaries on his works, which influenced thinkers as diverse as St. [[Thomas Aquinas]], [[Spinoza]], [[Gottfried Leibniz]], and [[Sir Isaac Newton|Newton]]. In concert with [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]], he holds that like the body, the soul can be diseased or healthy... virtue is a habit that can only be developed by practice.   

Succeeding generations of philosophers wrote extensive commentaries on his works, which influenced thinkers as diverse as St. [[Thomas Aquinas]], [[Spinoza]], [[Gottfried Leibniz]], and [[Sir Isaac Newton|Newton]]. In concert with [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]], he holds that like the body, the soul can be diseased or healthy... virtue is a habit that can only be developed by practice.   

[[Category:Physicians]]

[[Category:Physicians]]

[[Category:Astronomers]]

[[Category:Astronomers]]