Review: Library Journal/November 1 2001 Arbel, Ilil. Maimonides: A Spiritual Biography

Crossroad, dist. By National Bk. Network. (Lives and Legacies). 2001. c.192p. ISBN 0-8245-2359-8. $19.95

 

One of the greatest Jewish philosophers of the Middle Ages, Maimonides (1135-1204) authored The Guide of the Perplexed, a major work in Western Intellectual tradition, and is also known for his commentary on, and codification of, Jewish law. He was also a sought-after physician who led a busy and turbulent life that involved travel and dislocation. We do not know a great deal about his personal life, but his writings and letters provide a window into his thought and soul. Crossroad’s “Lives and Legacies” series provides a vehicle for introducing Maimonides in a way that is neither too long nor too scholarly; lay will appreciate this lucid and insightful portrayal. The authors updates a gem written by the great American theologian Abraham J. Heschel, whose Maimonides: A Biography was first published over 60 years ago and translated into English in the 1980s (LJ4/82). Recommended for most libraries. — Paul Kaplan, Lade Villa District lib., IL

 

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Born into a distinguished family in medieval Cordoba, Spain, the young Moses Maimonides was quickly recognized by his teachers for his outstanding intellectual abilities and extraordinary versatility. At the age of 13, when his peaceful world was shattered by war and persecution, and his family was forced into exile, fleeing and wandering from one place to another for many years, his religious and secular studies continued. Moses was, above all, a writer, and he wrote extensively until the end of his life." "After completing the Mishneh Torah in 1180, Maimonides was recognized internationally as the chief religious and legal authority of the entire Jewish world. A large part of his writing comes from his responsa. Letters came from rabbis, judges, scholars, students, teachers and head of schools; even private citizens sent their letters and expected an official responsum. The question of whether Maimonides meant for the Mishneh Torah to replace the Talmud remains one of the most controversial parts of his legacy, and Arbel addresses the troubling argument with a lucid and tenacious intelligence." Maimonides' views were curiously modern and his medical writings constitute a significant chapter in the history of modern medical science. He approached his work as a sacred duty and with a sense of mission, and acquired the reputation of a doctor who treated the soul as well as the body.