Maimonides Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Maimonides - Research Paper Example He was regarded as one of the popular Jewish Philosophical figures from the medieval ages. He was also a great â€Å"Torah† (name given by the Jews to the first five books of Bible) scholar and a well-known physician. Mimonides was born in Cordova, Spain on Passover eve (a unique fast day in Judiasm) in 1135 and died in Egypt (Tiberias) on 20th Tevet (fourth month of Hebrew calendar), December 12, 1204.Besides Maimonides, Cordova was also the birthplace of Avveros (Davidson 7-9). His father â€Å"Maimon†, was the direct descendent of the King David. Maimon served as a judge in the city’s Rabbinical Court. His mother passed away soon after his birth (Mangel). Maimonides was born during the age which is considered by many scholars as the end of the golden period of Jewish culture in the IberismPennisula after passage of first few years of Moorish rule. Muslim rule was established in Cordova and it stood and served as one of the greatest intellectual centers of the world at that point of time (Stroumsa 65). However as reported by Jacobs and Broyde, the situation took a turn and the events became worse when the Almohads invaded in 1148. They offered the local non-Muslims to choose either between Islam or else exile. Otherwise, they will be executed if they would not follow any one of the given alternatives. The family of Maimonides had to leave Cordova forcefully and after wandering here and there for so many years, they at last get settled in Fez, Morroco in 1160. In Morroco, they were unknown to the local authorities which supported them to pass as Muslims.There Maimonides studied at the University of Al-Karaouine.At that time, he started to work on his first religious master piece, â€Å"Commentary on Mishnah†. However, this dual life was increasingly threatening as the Maimonides’ popularity was growing steadily and the higher authorities were investigating regarding the religious disposition of this highly intellectual and gifted young man.  The ongoing inquiry had caused him to be charged with the crime of having reverted from Islam due to the evidenceprovided by an informer. But, due to the intervention of a Muslim friend, he remained successful in escaping the situation. However, these circumstances caused his family once again to leave Fez in 1165 and spent life in search of some shelter. Afterwards, they started their journey and went to Acre, to Jerusalem, and then to Fustat (Cairo), where they settled themselves in 1166 (Jacobs &Broyde). In Egypt, Maimonides had to face a number of misfortunes right in the starting years. Jacobs and Broyde had mentioned in their article that his father, Mai mon had died during that period too. After the demise of his father, his brother â€Å"David†had taken the responsibility of supporting the family by trading of precious stones. His financial support had provided Maimonides with the comfort of continuing and devoting himself to study Torah and author his first scholarly work on the Mishnah which started in 1166 and finished in 1168. This work of Maimonides was established as a seminal work in the Jewish Law. But it was not the end of losses for Maimonides, as his brother got perished in the sea in 1171. With his brother, his own fortune along with the large sums of other traders that had been entrusted upon David, were also lost with him. That event had affected the health of Maimonides and he remained sick for a long time span. After recovering his