Maimonides was born in Cordoba in 1135, at the end of the golden age of Spanish Judaism. At an early age he developed a marked interest in science and philosophy. He read Greek philosophers in Arabic translations and immersed himself in the study of science and Islamic culture. He studied Torah with his father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef.

In 1148 the Caliphate of Cordoba, tolerant of Christians and Jews, collapsed and fell under the regime of the Almohad dynasty, whose attitude was totally contrary, as they forced the “infidels” to convert to Islam or die. Maimonides’ family, like many other Jews, opted for exile. For the next ten years they wandered in southern Spain, until they finally settled in Fez, Morocco. It was during this time that Maimonides wrote his commentary on the Mishnah. From Morocco they moved to the land of Israel, where they stayed for a short time, leaving for Egypt to settle in Fostat, a city near Cairo.

Upon the death of his father, Maimonides became the head of the family, but he was able to continue his studies thanks to his brother David, who managed the family business, the precious stones trade. David drowned at sea on a business trip and Maimonides had to find a way to earn a living. He decided to devote himself to medicine, a profession he studied in Cordoba and Fez. He soon gained public recognition and was named physician to the Court of the Grand Vizier and Sultan Saladin, a position he held until his death in 1204. In accordance with his last wishes, his remains were transferred and buried in Tiberias, in the land of Israel.

Maimonides’ influence on the development of Judaism is incalculable. No spiritual leader after the Talmudic era has had such a great impact as he. Although his philosophical work was initially met with much opposition, over time it was finally accepted. His two main works were the Mishneh Torah, a codification of Jewish law, written as a guide to how to live according to the divine commandments, and the Guide for the Perplexed, a philosophical work where he explains the true meaning of the spirit of the law.

Maimonides, along with Rashi, is one of the most studied authors within Judaism in the Jewish academic world. His work marked the path of synthesis between Aristotelian thought and the Bible. He deeply influenced both Christian thinkers, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Arabs. He is also one of the most widely discussed Jewish thinkers. He has been adopted as a symbol and an intellectual hero by almost all movements in modern Judaism. Having managed to reconcile the philosophical with the traditional has given his legacy great richness and an uncommon quality. That is why it is said that “From Moses to Moses, there has been no one like Moses.”

Prepared by Marcos Gojman from various sources.