Surprisingly, an utterly imaginative "portrait" has become synonymous with Maimonides forever. How and when did this particular portrait become associated with Maimonides? This and many other intriguing questions regarding this portrait are systematically addressed, and its origins, possible inspiration, and hidden objectives are revealed.

Maimonides, known as the Rambam, was one of the greatest arbiters of all times on matters of Jewish law, one of the greatest philosophers of the Middle Ages, a scientist and researcher, a court physician, and a pre-eminent leader in the society of his time. In addition to his monumental work on Jewish law and ethics, his writings on medicine are classic and remarkable even in the present day. R...

This essay explores Maimonides’ explanation of the Bible’s rationale behind ritual sacrifices, namely to help wean Jews away from idolatrous rites. After clearly elucidating stance on topic, this examines his view different angles with various possible precedents in earlier rabbinic literature for such an understanding. The also shows why other Jewish commentators objected understanding and how...

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