Maimonides
Moses ben Maimon, Maimonides (1135-1204) (Hebrew: Rambam), was a Jewish rabbi, born at Cordoba, who 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[1]; in his relation to the Jews he ranks next to Moses, and taught them 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” .[2]
He was renowned for his efforts to reach fair judgments; in interpreting some of the sexist presumptions and rules of the Talmud, Maimonides often struggled to reach outcomes which would allow women to be happy and fulfilled in their lives.[Citation Needed]
Succeeding generations of philosophers wrote extensive commentaries on his works, which influenced thinkers as diverse as Aquinas, Spinoza, Leibniz, and Newton.
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- ↑ 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 Islamic 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.
- ↑ Nuttall Encyclopedia of General Knowledge, article on Maimonides, Moses originally published in 1907 written by Reverend James Wood
