Moses Maimonides Research Paper

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Moses Maimonides Notes Moses Maimonides also known by the acronym Rambam (1135-1204), was born in Cordoba in Spain in the 12th century and was born into a family of scholars and was educated by his father until his Bar Mitzvah. Moses came from an upper class family so he had opportunities for an excellent secular education. Moses was a religious rationalist who rejected the literal understanding of the Bible and the idea of an anthropomorphic God – giving God human qualities; he rather believed God to be a spirit. He also tried to bring philosophy, science and religion together. Moses Maimonides was a 12th century philosopher, physician/doctor, charity worker, writer, father to Abraham, husband and a highly respected and regarded…show more content…
He simplified the 613 commandments (mitzvah) into the 13 Articles of Faith which allowed Jews and non-Jews to read it and understand it, making it more accessible to read for everyone. This made the Torah more accessible to Jews and non-Jews alike as it was a more simplified version. In the 13 Articles of Faith – the 1st 5 are about God, the next 2 regard the prophets, the following 2 are on God’s actions, one is on the coming of the Messiah and the last one is about the resurrection. The 12th article was said by the Jews in the Holocaust as they hoped that the Messiah would come and save them. The importance of the 13 Articles of Faith is that Jews recite and say them at Morning Prayer. They are of central importance to the Jewish faith and the expression of…show more content…
Moses Maimonides’ works and teachings influenced later Jewish, Greek and Christian scholars and philosophers. His works and services that he provided to the Jewish community have notoriously contributed to Judaism to a great extent. Moses’ contributions to the Jewish society since the 12th century have influenced many people from both Jewish and other religious traditions and he is known as the greatest Jewish leader that ever lived and people still study him and are taught about him today. “He was not only a healer of princes, but a prince of healers” – Lawrence Englander. His works and contributions are studied today by both Jewish and non-Jewish scholars. “Maimonides is the most influential Jewish thinker of the Middle Ages, and quite possibly of all time” (Time Magazine). His impact on Judaism can be seen in the above quotes as people are praising him for the significant contributions he made to Judaism. His works are widely taught outside the Jewish world and within the Jewish world and his ethical writings inform Jewish thought to this day. His writings influenced later Christian philosophers such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas. His writings enriched Medieval Judaism by giving it a new philosophical

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