The Great Maimonides

 

Maimonides also known as Rambam was a 12th century Sephardic Jewish rabbi and philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. Among the greatest Jewish rabbis in history.

At the same time, he was a preeminent astronomer and physician, serving as personal physician to the great Saladin, Sultan of both Egypt and Syria who defeated the Crusaders in 1187 and captured Jerusalem.

Revered by Jewish historians, Maimonides also figures very prominently in the history of Islamic and Arab sciences and he is mentioned extensively in studies. He became a prominent philosopher in both the Jewish and Islamic worlds.

Influenced by Aristotle, he himself was a great influence to other great thinkers including St Thomas Aquinas.

Unlike other Jews and even Christians who think only them can go to heaven, Maimonides believes any non-Jew who lives according to the Seven Laws of Noah is regarded as a righteous gentile, and is assured of a place in the world to come, the final reward of the righteous. I hope many radical and conservative Jews and Christians learn from his teachings. 😉

Born in Spain, he was exiled in Morocco and ended up in Egypt where he served Saladin. He died in Egypt but it was claimed that he was ultimately buried in Tiberias in Israel where a "Tomb of Maimonides" became a tourist attraction.