Maimonides

by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Heschel's biography of Maimonides portrays him as more than the cold rationalist which he is often depicted to be, and presents him as a warm person aware of the mysteries that no intellect can penetrate.

Originally published in German in 1935—the 800th anniversary of its subject’s birth— Maimonides was Abraham Joshua Heschel’s first important work. In it, the author combines an account of the life of this most influential of Talmudic scholars and most celebrated of medieval Jewish philosophers with a subtle introduction to his writings and their place in the broader tradition of Jewish thought. Heschel’s insightful commentaries on two major works, Mishneh Torah & The Guide for the Perplexed, enable even the nonspecialist reader to grasp the fundamentals of Maimonides’s theology and to understand why he was among the few specifically Jewish philosophers whose writings made a significant impact on the non-Jewish world.

First translated into English in 1982, Maimonides remains—seventy-five years after its original publication—a fundamental work for understanding the greatest of Jewish thinkers. This is due in no small part to the exemplary clarity of Heschel’s exposition and the striking readability of his prose.

Praise for Maimonides

“A very readable book, written in the author’s characteristically thoughtful style”

—Sherwin Nuland

“It is almost seventy-five years old, and yet it still speaks clearly, cogently, and coherently.” —Stephen D. Benin, Shofar

Genres: Judaism, Philosophy, Religion, History, Biography, Jewish

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Heschel was a descendant of preeminent rabbinic families of Europe, both on his father's (Moshe Mordechai Heschel, who died of influenza in 1916) and mother's (Reizel Perlow Heschel) side, and a descendant of Rebbe Avrohom Yehoshua Heshl of Apt and other dynasties. He was the youngest of six children including his siblings: Sarah, Dvora Miriam, Esther Sima, Gittel, and Jacob. In his teens he received a traditional yeshiva education, and obtained traditional semicha, rabbinical ordination. He then studied at the University of Berlin, where he obtained his doctorate, and at the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, where he earned a second liberal rabbinic ordination.

Reviews

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What Heschel did masterfully is situate Maimonides and his works in his time and surroundings, connecting his thought to political and religious streams in the societies he lived in, making it easier for a reader today to make sense of his general opinions and attitudes and how they relate to today. İn a way Heschel did with Maimonides' life what Maimonides did with the Talmud.

What Heschel did not so masterfully was the racism right at the beginning, that was rather jarring. Surely one could find a better way to explain the sociopolitical context of the medieval Maghreb than by claiming İmazighen are crude and without culture.

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't vouch for (or against) Heschel's scholarship, but he does tell a good story here: he brings Maimonides to life, and suggests that he progressed from knowing the law (his legal scholarship) to trying to know God (his philosophical work) to imitating God (his focus on medicine in the last decade of his life).

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting figure, but this biography was a little dry for my tastes.

[Honey Jimenez · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Jew I had heard this name before, heard quotes from him while studying the Torah with a Rabbi. But I didn't really know who he was until I decided to read this book about him. He is, of course, a very influential Jewish philosopher and Talmudic Scholar. Not only during his lifetime, but even now. Why else would we still be quoting him and studying his writings along with the Torah? The Author presents an easy to read, yet concise book about him, his life, his teachings, writing and philosophies. Enough to want to learn more, or just to know the basics about him.

[Gabriel H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense and, for me, a relatively new student of Judaism/particularly Jewish philosophy, often difficult. The fact that it was translated from the German (by someone other than Heschel) doesn't help, in part because the writing simply can't live up to Heschel's often extraordinary prose. Also, the names of the sources have not been translated in the notes. But! Interesting, and it did help bring me into both the intellectual and political worlds of medieval Jewish communities, and the mind of the young Abraham Heschel. Not infrequently more worshipful than seems useful to me.

[Daniel Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very human look at the life of the Rambam.Alongside trying to understand his philosophical works, tracking his life is helpful.

[John Conolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this book. Don't know how much I'll remember. Learned a little history of the Mediterranean during the 12th Century. Learned about the scholarship and genius of Maimonides. Interesting, and reasonably easy reading. Doesn't assume you're a Jewish scholar, as do other books I've seen about the man.

[David Rullo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. Not enough time is spent on "Guide..." or his other writings. The final paragraph mentions an inscription on his grave about being a heretic but that's not explained or investigated. still, I learned a lot and would recommend it to others.

[CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that I've read previously. It is one that I have versions in both English und Deutsche.