Moses Maimonides

Statue of Moses Maimonides in the Place de Maimonides, Cordoba, Spain.

Introduction

Moses Maimonides (1135-1204) was born in Córdoba, Spain, as the first son of Rabbi Maimon ben Joseph, a highly respected, eighth-generation dayyan -- a judge of the rabbinical court. His mother's name is unknown, and very likely she died at birth. By the standards of the age, Maimonides lived a long life, despite circumstances that were often extremely difficult. For much of his childhood he wandered over Andalusia, where fanatic invaders, the Almohades, destroyed every Jewish community they found on their way. Throughout this time, he studied and wrote books of Talmudic scholarship. Eventually, he moved from Spain to Morocco, where he had to hide his religion and was nearly put to death by the authorities. Escaping from Morocco, he tried, unsuccessfully, to settle in Israel, then emigrated to Egypt, first to stay in Alexandria, and finally to settle in Fustat, near Cairo. Despite tragedy and loss, his fortune finally turned and he became the chief physician at the court of Saladin. He reached the pinnacle of success by becoming the Nagid, or the Supreme Head of the Jews. While fulfilling his numerous responsibilities, Maimonides produced a magnificent body of written works on Talmudic scholarship, Jewish Law, medicine, and philosophy.

Few individuals left so strong a mark on Jewish history as Maimonides. Many consider him to be the greatest Jewish philosopher of all times, and eight hundred years after his death his work is still studied and debated. Its clarity, elegance, and modernity of style continuously amaze new generations of readers. He influenced Jewish and non-Jewish philosophers alike, with such diverse individuals as Spinoza, Leibniz, and Thomas Aquinas freely acknowledging their debt to him in their works.

Photo: Maimonides on an Israeli stamp.

A true rationalist in all his pursuits, be it medical, philosophical or legal, Moses Maimonides disliked any flight of fancy. He dismissed witchcraft, mysticism, and astrology as unworthy of attention. For example, there is a documented story where he denied that anyone could be possessed by demons, a very common belief during his time. The story tells that a woman, not very well educated, suddenly started to speak in languages and showed herself able to recite whole passages in Greek. Everyone was convinced that she was possessed by demons, but Maimonides calmly dismissed the issue by showing that at some point in her life she worked as a housekeeper for a noted Priest and Scholar, and very likely heard him often read aloud and speak in this language. In Maimonides's opinion, she acquired the language skill without realizing it. He didn't even allow a supernatural element to be featured in the Coming of the Messiah, and claimed that the Messiah will be a strong king who will lead his people to their own promised land.

Therefore, it is ironic that a huge collection of mystical and magical tales was constructed around Maimonides. It is not, however, unusual; many noted individuals had myths surround them after their death. This area of the Encyclopedia contains some of these legends, arranged according to their subject matter. They will include legends of miraculous birth, travel miracles, professional miracles, raising people from the dead, miracles surrounding his own death and burial, and many other varied themes. Stories will be added periodically.

Sources:
Ilil Arbel. Maimonides: A Spiritual Biography. New York: Crossroad Publishing Company. (To be published September 2001).
Yitzhak Avishur. Shivhe ha-Rambam. Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, The Hebrew University. 1998.

From Moses to Moses there were none like Moses: Prophecy of Maimonides' Birth

Moses Maimonides had a strong relationship with the Biblical Moses ben Amram, after whom he was named. Maimonides was born on Nisan 14, on Passover's eve, and heard the tales of the Biblical Moses since early childhood. He always believed that Moses was the greatest of the prophets. He showed four points that made him believe that the Biblical Moses was superior to all others:

Maimonides felt that the Biblical Moses achieved this state, similar to that of an angel or a pure spirit, because he liberated himself from desire, from the tyranny of his senses, and from the power of his imagination. The legends and folklore show how much the Jews accepted the similarity and connection between the two leaders, so much so that a famous saying circulated even during Maimonides' life time, and later inscribed on his grave: "From Moses to Moses there were none like Moses." The Jews felt that:

The relationship started, according to a variant legend, even before Maimonides was born, and applied to the prophetic dream that Rabbi Maimon had before he married Maimonides' mother: This event happened to the father of the Rambam, Rabbi Maimon, rest his soul. From his youth Rabbi Maimon contemplated Torah and wisdom, inquiring into wonders and looking at the deepest and exalted secrets of the Torah; and these secrets, their keys were saved for elders, who had already advanced in wisdom. And Rabbi Maimon was so deep into the Torah that he refused to marry, because he said: "My soul longs for the Torah only." The years passed and he was still unmarried.

One day Maimon lied under a fig tree in his garden, and a tiny bee started walking on his face. He woke up, but immediately fell asleep again. In his dream he saw the five books of Moses' Torah. He started reading, and suddenly saw Moses, son of Amram, giving the Torah. He turned to Rabbi Maimon and said: "The Lord of Heaven and Earth be blessed. He will give you a son who will write Mishneh Torah, and light the eyes of all Israel; he will be a holy man, perfect in the quality of spirit and soul, a teacher and a leader of his people." While our Rabbi Moses was still speaking, Elijah the Prophet appeared and said: "Maimon, get up and go to nearby Córdoba, and take as wife the daughter of the butcher there." When Rabbi Maimon woke up, he traveled to Córdoba and married the butcher's daughter, as Elijah the Prophet said. And the woman gave birth to Maimonides, the Rambam. The mother did not have the privilege of raising her son Maimonides: she died in childbirth.

When Maimonides finished writing the Mishneh Torah, he knew its value. However, he also expected tremendous objections and was worried about them. He thought some people would object to his having omitted the references to his sources. He knew some may not like his presentation of unsubstantiated opinions. He expected many to object to the inclusion of non-Jewish philosophy. In addition, he knew that his enemies would do anything to detract from the book even if they believed it was good, out of jealousy and ill will. He was deeply worried. And one night all was done. There was nothing left to correct, nothing to reread, nothing to ponder. In a state of deep anxiety, drained and exhausted, Maimonides went to sleep, and had a profound and significant dream: The night after he completed the book Mishneh Torah, his father, Rabbi Maimon, came to him in a dream, and with him was our teacher Moses ben Amram. Rabbi Maimon said "My son, this man that you see with me is our teacher, Moses ben Amram." And he added: "My son, we came to see the book you have written." He got up and gave them the book, and they looked at it and said: "May thy strength increase for the book you have written."

15th century LisbonEven the greatest rationalist, the man who disdained any supernatural inclination and always criticized mysticism, could not have resisted a sign of approval from the spirits of Rabbi Maimon, his beloved and honored father, and Moses ben Amram, the greatest prophet that had ever lived. It is very likely that Maimonides actually had this dream, and was impressed enough to tell others about it. Therefore, it may be a true legend.

One day the king asked Maimonides: "Show me that you really know how to perform Kefitzat ha-Derach." "Very well, sir," said Maimonides, and disappeared from sight. The king looked for him for half a day, and could not find him. Suddenly, Maimonides reappeared, led the king to his house, and showed him goods from other countries located in Europe. Everyone knew how far Europe was! He also had a document, signed by eye witnesses and by the governor of one of the distant cities, showing that on that same date Maimonides bought a house for a certain price, and from a specific landlord. Then, Maimonides showed the king a set of keys for that house. The king was so impressed that he started studying the Torah with Maimonides and from that day on, was always good and kind to the Jews. The entire congregation maintained a pleasant lifestyle and earned a good income. Literally, the phrase Kefitzat ha-Derach means "The Jumping of the Road." In Jewish myth, there is a recurring miracle that allows a traveler to cross long distances in unnaturally short time. This legend has a strong historical core, regarding a document showing the deed for a house, bought at a specific date. The evidence was used favorably to prove Maimonides' innocence when he was accused of converting to Islam during a specific time. The document proved he could not be at two places at the same time. In addition, the good king is undoubtedly Saladin, who always treated the Jews well.

One day, a pagan came and inquired among the Jewish congregation: "Is there a wise man, guided by the spirit of God, you could lead me to?" "We have a man inspired by God, whose name is Moses Maimonides," answered the people, and led the pagan to Maimonides. "I am an owner of a large ship," said the man to Maimonides. "The ship is in the port of Fez ¹, and has been ready to go for days, but the winds are calm, and the sailors are unable to start the journey. Last night I dreamed that I am holding a Torah scroll in my hand, then hugging it to my heart. However, I am a pagan, and I do not study the Torah. Could you explain the dream?" "Captain," said Maimonides, "are you ready to sail now? Do you have all the necessary provisions?" "Three times I prepared the ship with everything we could possibly need, and three times we could not leave the port of Fez. This is the fourth time, the ship is ready, and all the provisions are on board." "Would you like to sail right now?" asked Maimonides. "Yes, Master," said the captain, "and if you go with me I shall be your slave." ² "The Torah scroll in your dream was me," said Maimonides. "You held it in your hand, and then hugged it to your heart, because I will be coming with you. Go quickly; I will follow you, and as soon as I enter the ship we must leave." The man obeyed; the moment Maimonides boarded the ship the wind rose and they sailed away. In one night the ship reached Alexandria ³, and Maimonides decided to live there.

¹ Fez is not a port city. When Maimonides left Morocco to travel to Israel he embarked on his ship in the port city of Ceuta.
² This is not meant literally. In the flowery language of the era, it meant "I shall be at your service."
³ In those days, the trip from Morocco to Alexandria normally took a few weeks.

An old legend tells a most heroic story about Maimonides' escape from Fez. According to the tale, Maimonides functioned as a dayyan ¹. He worked next door to a Muslim judge who hated all Jews. That judge once claimed that if a Jew touched the clothes of a Muslim, the Muslim must bathe to purify himself and change his clothes. Maimonides refused to see the Jews humiliated, and waited for his chance to return the insult. One day, a Jew came to consult Maimonides. The Jew owned two vats, one of oil, the other of wine. The day before, a mouse fell into the oil and drowned, and a Muslim passed by and touched the vat of wine. Could the Jew still use the oil and the wine? Maimonides, as usual surrounded by many listeners, deliberated the two problems. Finally, he said that the Jew may remove the mouse and use the oil. As for the wine, he continued, this was another matter. A Jew is forbidden to drink wine that had been touched by a Muslim. The Jew had to discard the vat of wine. As Maimonides intended, the judge next door heard that decision. Furiously, he got up and screamed at the crowd that Maimonides considered a dead mouse a purer entity than a living Muslim! Such a man must be destroyed! The enraged and violent crowd chased Maimonides through the streets. He ran to the first city gate. God sent a pride of lions to his rescue, and they tore many of his pursuers to pieces. The lions' attack slowed the crowd and Maimonides managed to run to the second city gate. At the gate, God sent him swords, and they brandished themselves in the air and stabbed some of the pursuers. During the miraculous fight, Maimonides ran to the third city gate. There, fire blazed through the gate and burned many of the pursuers. Maimonides ran to the fourth and last city gate, and saw that a huge boulder blocked it! Trusting in God, Maimonides hurled himself into the stone, and God made him magically disappear through it -- and reappear in Cairo, safe and sound.

For many years, Maimonides dreamed about going to Eretz Israel ¹, but the King of Egypt did not allow him to do so. Before his death, he called his disciples and told them that as soon as he died, and the purification rites were completed, they must put his body on the back of a camel and allow the camel to wander as it pleased. They were to follow the camel, and where it would stop and refuse to continue -- they should bury him right there. The disciples obeyed. For one day, morning to night, the camel walked until it reached the town of Tiberias in Eretz Israel. The camel stood near the grave of Rabbi Johanan ben Zakai, and would not budge any further. When the disciples saw the great miracle, they removed the body and buried Maimonides there. The distance from Egypt to Tiberias is extensive, but the disciples knew they had experienced Kefitzat ha-Derach ². Indeed, the way back to Egypt lasted a few weeks.

¹ The Land of Israel in Hebrew.
² Literally, the phrase means "The Jumping of the Road." In Jewish myth, there is a recurring miracle that allows a traveler to cross long distances in unnaturally short time.