This week in Jewish history | Birth of Moses Maimonides [Rambam]

On 30 March 1135 CE (14th of Nissan 4895), Moses Maimonides was born in Córdoba, Spain. 

Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon is known in rabbinical literature and Judaic texts by the acronym “Rambam.” Raised in a distinguished and educated family, Maimonides studied traditional Jewish texts under the guidance of his father, Maimon, an accomplished scholar. 

The scope of education extended beyond religious text and Maimonides also studied medicine, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy. Living in Islamic Spain, Maimonides was exposed to Islamic scholarship and granted full religious freedom. 

When a fanatical Islamist sect, known as the Alomohads, captured Cordoba in 1148, the Jewish community was forced to convert or flee the city. Recognizing the dire consequences of openly practicing Judaism, the Maimon family disguised themselves as Muslims in public, while continuing to observe their religion in secret. 

When the double life proved too grueling and dangerous, Maimonides and his brother David fled Cordoba for Fez, Morrocco. Maimonides continued his rabbinic studies in private with Rabbi Judah ibn Shoshan. Shortly after resettling, Rabbi Judah ibn Shoshan was discovered as a practicing Jew, arrested, and executed. In response, Maimonides and his brother fled to Palestine, then under Crusader rule. 

The brothers quickly discovered there was little opportunity in Palestine to earn a living, and after a brief, yet profound, visit, the brothers settled in Egypt. David worked as a merchant, which allowed Maimonides to devote himself to his studies and author his publication on the Mishnah.  

When David died in 1171, Maimonides began practicing medicine, with little time for his rabbinic studies. His success and fame  eventually led to his appointment as court physician to the sultan Saladin. After a decade of work and the product of a lifetime of scholarship, he completed the Mishneh Torah in 1178.  

Prior to Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, one would have to study the entire Talmud to adequately understand Jewish law. To make the Mishneh Torah accessible to the Jewish world, Maimonides organized it topically and composed it in clear, succinct Hebrew. He codified Jewish law and was the first to formally index the entire body of Oral Law.  

As both a trained physician and worldly scholar, Maimonides published numerous texts in a variety of fields. His other profound works include The Guide for the Perplexed, a foundation to the study of philosophy, addressing the complex relationship between reason and religion. Maimonides died in Egypt in 1204 CE. He was buried in Tiberias, Israel. Noting his legacy, his grave reads, “From Moses to Moses, none arose as Moses.” 

Today, Maimonides’ works are studied in both religious and secular fields. In acknowledgement of his contributions in the fields of religion and medicine, hospitals and schools worldwide are named for him.