Controversies of The Rambam

Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.
- Moreh Nevuchim 2:15

Part One

Rambam's Statue in Cordoba

Birth and Childhood

• Born on Erev Pesach 1135 to Maimon. From a long line of Rabbanim and Dayanim (Eight Generations)
• Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule.
• 1148: Almohads take over and revise Dhimi Status of Jews (Since the pact of Umar in the 8th century)

Early Studies

• The Ri Migash, his father's Rebbe, died when the Rambam was 6 years old.
• Mimon was the primary tacher of the Rambam
• Begins writing the Peirush HaMishna at age 23, finishing at age 30.

Flight to North Africa

• Three Choices: Flight, conversion or death
• Wandering for a decade, facing persecution, settling in Fes, Morocco.
• Many Jews were Jewish in practice, but publicly Muslim. (First controversy)
• Rumors were circulated that the Rambam converted - these were unfounded.

In Israel

• 1168: Arrival in Eretz Yisrael. Visited Yerushalaim and Chevron
• Left Israel, most likely, for parnasa, settling in Egypt, which upset him for the rest of his life.
• Mimon dies.

In Egypt - Fustat

• Soon after his arrival, tragedy struck, two sons dies, as well as David, the Rambam's younger brother.
• The depression from this lasted a year.
• To earn a living, he became a physician. (Studies that he learned in Cordoba and in Fes).
• He quickly gained fame as an expert.

The Nagid

• 1177 - Rambam became the Nagid of Fustat.
• Appointed court physician to the Grand Vizier Al Qadi al Fadil then to Sultan Saladin.
• Worked tirelessly until his death in 1204.

Part Two

Halachic Works

• Sefer HaMitzvot
• Peirush HaMishna
• Mishna Torah

Other Works

• Moreh Nevuchim
• Medical Books

Part Three

First Period of Controversy

• 1180-1204
• Mishna Torah was a Halachik Revolution unlike anything since the Mishna.
• Gaon Shmuel b. Ali in Bagdad argued that people would abandon Talmud study and lead to ignorance.
• Rabbi Abraham ben David (Raavad III, France, 12th century) pens the, Hasagos HaRa'avad printed alongside.

Second Period of Controversy

• 1220 - 1235 (The Rambam died in 1204)
• Criticism of Aristotelean Philosophy, and Greece in general
• Rav Shlomo Min HaHar (Montpelier) puts the Moreh and Sefer HaMada in Cherem
• Muslim vs Christian Europe

Rabbeinu Yonah's Critique

• Theological: Denial of Miracles (Rambam is exceedingly rational)
• Exigetical: Allegorizations of Chumash (Stories are not literal)
• Practical: Laxity in Observance

Burning the Rambam's Books

• 1232 in Paris: Dominican Friars burn the Rambam's books in a public square.
• Rambam's grave in Tiveria is desecrated.
• The Talmud is burned a decade later in the same sqaure.
• Rabbeinu Yonah saw this as punishment, and authors Shaarei Teshuva to atone for the desecration of the Rambam.

Ramban's Compromise

• Jews of Europe do not need the Rambam - he was a "mekarev"
• Lift the ban, so that those who need answers to philosophical questions can access them.
• Ramban was not a fan of Aristotle.
• Argued that the Rambam was not lax in Mitzvos.

Third Period of Controversy

• Late 13th Century
• Rav Shlomo Petit
• Tore the community of Acco apart, but ulitimately failed
• Rav Shlomo Petit was placed in Cherem

Forth Period of Controversy

• Early 14th Century in Spain and Provence
• The study of philosophy is much more accepted
• Rashba 1305: Young men under 25 should not study philosophy (except for medicine and Jewish Philosophy)
• Meiri was opposed.

Controversy Until Today

• Rational vs Mystical Judaism?
• Is the Torah entirely literal?
• Can one synthesize secular wisdom/philosophy with Torah?

Untitled Slide