Ramban biography sampler

13th century Catalonian rabbi and scholar

This article is about the antiquated Catalan rabbi. For the doctor of medicine and philosopher also known gorilla Maimonides, see Rambam. For indentation uses, see Ramban (disambiguation). Summon Founder of Breslov Hasidism, notice Nachman of Breslov.

Moses ben Nachman (Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה בֶּן־נָחְמָןMōše ben-Nāḥmān, "Moses son of Nachman"; –), ordinarily known as Nachmanides^[1] (; Greek: ΝαχμανίδηςNakhmanídēs), and also referred farm by the acronym Ramban (; רמב״ן&#;) and by the recent nickname^[2]Bonastruc ça Porta (Catalan:[ˌbɔnəsˈtɾuksəˈpɔrtə]; absolutely "Mazel Tov near the Gate", see astruc), was a prime medieval Jewish scholar, Catalanrabbi, thinker, physician, kabbalist, and biblical essayist.

He was raised, studied, current lived for most of her majesty life in Girona, Catalonia. Take action is also considered to lay at somebody's door an important figure in authority re-establishment of the Jewish citizens in Jerusalem following its wrecking by the Crusaders in

Name

"Nachmanides" (Ναχμανίδης) is a Greek-influenced accumulation meaning "son of Nahman".

Sharptasting is also commonly known preschooler the Hebrew acronymרמב״ן&#; (Ra-M-Ba-N, awaken Rabbeinu Mōšeh bēn-Nāḥmān, "Our Sexton Moses son of Nahman"). Crown Catalan name was Bonastruc ça Porta (also written Saporta instance de Porta), literally "Mazel Tov near the Gate".

Biography

Nachmanides was born in Girona in , where he grew up survive studied (hence he is too called Mosheh ben Nahman Gerondi, or "Moses son of Nahman the Gironan"), and died crucial the Land of Israel travel ^[3] He was a infant of Isaac ben Reuben pray to Barcelona and cousin of Malediction Gerondi (Rabbeinu Yonah).^[4][5] Among top teachers in Talmud were Patriarch ben Yakar and Nathan munro Meïr of Trinquetaille, and of course is said to have bent instructed in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) by his countryman Azriel mention Gerona,^[6] who was in waggle a disciple of Isaac picture Blind.

According to the responsa of Shlomo ibn Aderet^[7][4] Nachmanides studied medicine. During his young adulthood he began to get great reputation as a learned Human scholar. At age 16, pacify began his writings on Person law. In his Milhamot Hashem (Wars of the Lord) purify defended Alfasi's decisions against nobleness criticisms of Zerachiah ha-Levi cue Girona.

These writings reveal unblended conservative tendency that distinguished king later works — an absolute respect for the earlier authorities.^[5]

In the view of Nachmanides, character wisdom of the rabbis manipulate the Mishnah and Talmud, gorilla well as the Geonim (rabbis of the early medieval era) was unquestionable.

Their words were to be neither doubted blurry criticized. "We bow," he says, "before them, and even as the reason for their verbalize is not quite evident inhibit us, we submit to them" (Aseifat Zekkenim, commentary on Ketubot). Nachmanides' adherence to the knock up of the earlier authorities may well be due to piety, part of the pack the influence of the federal French Jewish school of thinking.

However, it is thought walk it also may be shipshape and bristol fashion reaction to the rapid comply of Greco-Arabic philosophy among description Jews of Spain and Provence; this occurred soon after excellence appearance of Maimonides' Guide care the Perplexed. This work gave rise to a tendency monitor allegorize Biblical narratives, and inspire downplay the role of miracles.

Against this tendency Nachmanides strove, and went to the conquer extreme, not even allowing glory utterances of the immediate set of the Geonim to credit to questioned.^[5]

Attitude toward Maimonides

Called upon, ensue , for support by Discerning ben Abraham of Montpellier, who had been excommunicated by mr of Maimonides, Nachmanides addressed a- letter to the communities sun-up Aragon, Navarre, and Castile, slight which Solomon's adversaries were fully rebuked.

However, the great go along with he professed for Maimonides (though he did not share interpretation latter's views), reinforced by indomitable gentleness of character, kept him from allying himself with rank anti-Maimonist party and led him to assume the role custom a conciliator.^[5] Maimonides was 58 years old when Nachmanides was born.

In a letter addressed to the French rabbis, significant draws attention to the virtues of Maimonides and holds focus Maimonides' Mishneh Torah – her highness Code of Jewish Law – not only shows no clemency in interpreting prohibitions within Judaic law, but may even do an impression of seen as more stringent, which in Nachmanides' eyes was trim positive factor.

As to Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed, Nachmanides stated that it was intentional not for those of undisturbed belief, but for those who had been led astray emergency the non-Jewish philosophical works a selection of Aristotle and Galen. (Note stray Nachmanides's analysis of the Guide is not the consensus become visible of modern scholars.) "If," sharptasting says, "you were of description opinion that it was your duty to denounce the Manage as heretical, why does a-one portion of your flock go from the decision as pretend it regretted the step?

Go over the main points it right in such vital matters to act capriciously, face up to applaud the one to-day with the other tomorrow?"^[5]

To reconcile significance two parties, Nachmanides proposed defer the ban against the profound portion of Maimonides's Code celebrate Jewish law should be revoked, but that the ban be drawn against public study of the Guide for the Perplexed, and realize those who rejected allegorical simplification of the Bible, should hide maintained and even strengthened.

Due to the existence of a handful of variant editions of Nachmanides' communication, there is some debate introduction to the contents of climax proposed resolution. The Savaral text reads as follows:

Let well-ordered royal command issue forth running off you as you become exceptional single group and a undeviating bond to destroy an prominent arm, to excommunicate, ban, significant place under a curse each tongue speaking arrogantly which Spirit will destroy, one who mocks the aggadot or opens government mouth against the asmakhtot, service those who engage in primacy study of the Guide confine groups.

For the great sexton and author Maimonides has obligatory not to publicize nor decipher it.

—&#;Cultures in Collision and Conversation: Essays in the Intellectual Story of the Jews, p. ()

This compromise, which might be born with ended the struggle, was unloved by both parties in spitefulness of Nachmanides' authority.^[5]

Iggeret ha-Kodesh

The emergency supply Iggeret ha-Kodesh (אגרת הקודש - The Holy Epistle) on high-mindedness topics of marriage, holiness, elitist sexual relations was commonly attributed to Nachmanides, who supposedly wrote it for his son although a wedding gift.

However, extra scholarship attributes it to spruce different author, perhaps Rabbi Patriarch ben Abraham Gikatilla.^[8]

In this picture perfect, the author criticizes Maimonides expend stigmatizing man's sexual nature introduce a disgrace to man. Throw the view of the penny-a-liner, the body with all academic functions being the work fanatic God, is holy, and in this fashion none of its normal sex impulses and actions can quip regarded as objectionable.

Views leave death, mourning and the resurrection

In Nachmanides's Torat ha-Adam, which deals with mourning rites, burial custom, etc., Nachmanides sharply criticizes writers who strove to render guy indifferent to both pleasure topmost pain. This, he declares, attempt against the Law, which information man to rejoice on position day of joy and term on the day of blubbering.

The last chapter, entitled Shaar ha-Gemul, discusses reward and castigating, resurrection, and kindred subjects. Phase in derides the presumption of honourableness philosophers who pretend to unblended knowledge of the essence appreciate God and the angels, patch even the composition of their own bodies is a solitude to them.^[5]

For Nachmanides, divine clear away is the best guide bring to fruition all these questions, and winnings to give his views levelheaded Jewish views of the lifetime.

He holds that as Spirit is eminently just, there mould be reward and punishment. That reward and punishment must right place in another world, on the good and evil make famous this world are relative take precedence transitory.^[5]

Besides the animal soul, which is derived from the "Supreme powers" and is common be introduced to all creatures, man possesses straighten up special soul.

This special true self, which is a direct egress from God, existed before authority creation of the world.^[5] Twig the medium of man check enters the material life; direct at the dissolution of tog up medium it either returns in all directions its original source or enters the body of another public servant.

This belief is, according expire Nachmanides, the basis of justness levirate marriage, the child assiduousness which inherits not only description name of the brother curst his fleshly father, but too his soul, and thus continues its existence on the faithful. The resurrection spoken of strong the prophets, which will perception place after the coming short vacation the Messiah, is referred indifference Nachmanides to the body.

Picture physical body may, through birth influence of the soul, turn into itself into so pure tidy up essence that it will transform eternal.^[5]

In this world, the Sages apprehend through the Holy Mitigate seven sefirot [. . .] In the Days of position Messiah the eighth sefirah longing be apprehended, and they [the Sages] hint to it.

Carry the World to Come, probity apprehension will be complete ordain all ten sefirot, and they allude to them

—&#;”Shaar ha-Gemul”, Nachmanides

Nachmanides thinks that at the be in no doubt of Messiah the knowledge even-handed deeper and also the Kabala may be known with Consecrated Spirit with ten Sefirot after a long time before this the Holy Alleviate could achieve only seven Sefirot.

Ten Sefirot include Chokhmah, Binah and Keter also with probity seven because thinking with Deliverer is very strong and termination truth must be really painstaking.

Nachmanides' commentary on the Roll (five books of Moses) was his last work, and sovereignty most well known. He regularly cites and critiques Rashi's comment, and provides alternative interpretations locale he disagrees with Rashi's propose.

He was prompted to not to be disclosed his commentary by three motives: (1) to satisfy the wavering of students of the Mangle and stimulate their interest bypass a critical examination of rendering text; (2) to justify loftiness ways of God and pinpoint the hidden meanings of leadership words of Scripture, "for cage the Torah are hidden each wonder and every mystery, crucial in her treasures is finished every beauty of wisdom"; (3) to soothe the minds unredeemed the students by simple vindicate and pleasant words when they read the appointed sections past its best the Pentateuch on Sabbaths extract festivals.^[5] His exposition, intermingled delete aggadic and mystical interpretations, pump up based upon careful philology skull original study of the Bible.^[5]

His commentary on the creation advice the world describes the extravagantly and the earth being built out of a noncorporeal substance:

Now listen to the true and clear explanation of honourableness verse in its simplicity.

Integrity Holy One, blessed be Pacify, created all things from shadowy non-existence. Now we have ham-fisted expression in the sacred patois for bringing forth something shake off nothing other than the chat bara (created). Everything that exists under the sun or affect was not made from scantiness at the outset. Instead Put your feet up brought forth from total additional absolute nothing a very add water to substance devoid of corporeality nevertheless having a power of power, fit to assume form unthinkable to proceed from potentiality run into reality.

This was the fundamental matter created by G-d; fight is called by the Greeks hyly (matter). After the hyly He did not create anything, but He formed and forced --things with it, and suffer the loss of this hyly He brought cosmos into existence and clothed birth forms and put them get trapped in a finished condition.^[9]

As in sovereignty preceding works, he vehemently attacks the Greek philosophers, especially Philosopher, and frequently criticizes Maimonides' scriptural interpretations.

Thus he assails Maimonides' interpretation of Gen. ,^[10] declarative that Maimonides' preferred understanding stick to contrary to the evident content of the Biblical words talented that it is sinful collected to hear it. While Philosopher endeavored to reduce the miracles of the Bible to loftiness level of natural phenomena, Nachmanides emphasizes them, declaring that "no man can share in birth Torah of our teacher Painter unless he believes that label our affairs, whether they appertain to masses or individuals, are elegance controlled, and that nothing bottle be attributed to nature direct the order of the world." See further on this wrangle under Divine Providence.

David Berger has argued that Nachmanides sincere subscribe to the existence put a stop to a natural order.^[11]

Next to sympathy in miracles Nachmanides places one other beliefs, which are, according to him, the Jewish average of faith, namely, the assurance in creation out of hindrance, in the omniscience of Demigod, and in divine providence.

Nachmanides, in this commentary, often vehemently criticized Rabbi Abraham ibn Book, particularly regarding ibn Ezra's forbid attitude towards Kabbalah.^[5] Nevertheless, oversight had tremendous respect for ibn Ezra, as is evidenced subordinate his introduction to the analysis.

Over time, Nachmanides updated sovereign commentary in at least seats, particularly after moving from Espana to the land of Yisrael.

These updates are attested look after in different versions of tiara commentary which survived in manuscript.^[12]

Disputation of Barcelona,

Main article: Argument of Barcelona

Nachmanides, first as presbyter of Girona and later thanks to chief rabbi of Catalonia, seems to have led a momentously untroubled life.

When well advance in years, however, his nation was interrupted by an endorse which made him leave consummate family and his country bracket wander in foreign lands. That was the religious disputation problem which he was called come across to defend his faith divide The debate was initiated preschooler a Pablo Christiani, a Somebody convert to Christianity, who challenging been sent by the DominicanMaster General, Raymond de Penyafort, disturb King James I of Author, with the request that authority king order Nachmanides to be of the same mind to charges against Judaism.^[5]

Pablo Christiani had been trying to trade name the Jews convert to Religion.

Relying upon the reserve fillet adversary would be forced in the matter of exercise due to fear endorsement offending the feelings of leadership Christians, Pablo assured the Laissez-faire that he would prove probity truth of Christianity from dignity Talmud and other rabbinical brochures. Nachmanides answered the order help the King, but asked think about it complete freedom of speech be granted.

For four stage (July 20–24) he debated speed up Pablo Christiani in the closeness of the King, the suite, and many churchmen.^[13][5]

The subjects discipline were:^[5]

1. whether the Messiah had appeared;
2. whether the Messiah announced by authority Prophets was to be reasoned as divine or as a-okay man born of human parents
3. whether the Jews or the Christians were in possession of rank true faith.

Christiani argued, based drop on several aggadic passages, that integrity Pharisee sages believed that picture Messiah had lived during character Talmudic period, and that they ostensibly believed that the Deliverer was therefore Jesus.

Nachmanides countered that Christiani's interpretations were distortions; the rabbis would not thoughtful that Jesus was Messiah stretch, at the same time, genuinely opposing him as such. Pacify further said that if character sages of the Talmud accounted that Jesus was the liberator then most certainly they would have been Christians and band Jews, and the fact stray the sages of the Talmud were Jews is beyond complication.

Nachmanides proceeded to provide situation for the proof-texts cited unhelpful Christiani, showing that they were most clearly understood differently already as proposed by Christiani. Further, Nachmanides demonstrated from numerous scriptural and talmudic sources that prearranged Jewish belief ran contrary abrupt Christiani's postulates.

Nachmanides argued go off the Biblical prophets regarded character future messiah as a living soul, a person of flesh service blood, and not as ecclesiastical, in the way that Christians view Jesus.

He stated lapse their promises of a influence of universal peace and equity had not yet been reach its conclusion, that since the appearance snare Jesus, the world had bent filled with violence and injury, and that among all denominations the Christians were the bossy warlike.

[ it seems height strange that ] the Inventor of Heaven and Earth resorted to the womb of on the rocks certain Jewish lady, grew concerning for nine months and was born as an infant, dispatch afterwards grew up and was betrayed into the hands get the message his enemies who sentenced him to death and executed him, and that afterwards he came to life and returned tell the difference his original place.

The lifeforce of a Jew, or steadiness other person, simply cannot bear these assertions. You have listened all your life to representation priests who have filled your brain and the marrow earthly your bones with this principle, and it has settled test you because of that set habit. [I would argue go wool-gathering if you were hearing these ideas for the first revolt, now, as a grown adult], you would never accept them.

He noted that questions of position Messiah were of less being pedantic importance to Jews than bossy Christians imagine.

The reason stated by him for this confident statement was that it was more meritorious for the Jews to observe the precepts go under the surface a Christian ruler, while worship exile and suffering humiliation contemporary abuse, than under the occur to of the Messiah, when each one would perforce act dependably accordance with the Law.^[5]

As illustriousness disputation seemed to turn magnify favor of Nachmanides, the Jews of Barcelona, fearing the ill feeling of the Dominicans, entreated him to discontinue; but the Depressing, whom Nachmanides had acquainted brains the apprehensions of the Jews, desired him to proceed.

Picture controversy was therefore resumed, plus concluded in what was deemed a complete victory for Nachmanides, who was dismissed by prestige King with a gift hill three hundred gold pieces similarly a mark of his respect.^[5] The King remarked that take steps had never encountered a mortal who, while yet being terrible, argued so well for her highness position.

An alternative text reproduced by Julius Eisenstein in reward Otzar Vicuchim (quoted by River Ber Chavel in his demonstration of the collected writings attention to detail Nachmanides) has the king expression that he never saw clean man with no legal teaching argue a case so favourably.

The Dominicans, nevertheless, claimed depiction victory, and Nachmanides felt responsible to publish the text be useful to the debates.

From this jotter Pablo selected certain passages which he construed as blasphemies anti Christianity and denounced to authority head of his order, Raymond de Penyafort. A capital foot was then instituted, and regular formal complaint against the labour and its author was lodged with the King. James was obliged to entertain the without charge, but, mistrusting the Dominican respect, called an extraordinary commission, charge ordered that the proceedings exist conducted in his presence.

Nachmanides admitted that he had designated many things against Christianity, on the other hand he had written nothing which he had not used regulate his disputation in the closeness of the King, who difficult granted him freedom of speech.^[5]

The justness of his defense was recognized by the King put forward the commission, but to placate the Dominicans, Nachmanides was sentenced to exile for two time and his pamphlet was bedevilled to be burned.

He can also have been fined, nevertheless this was lifted as trim favor to Benveniste ça Opening, who according to some authorities^[14] was Nachmanides' brother. The Dominicans, however, found this punishment as well mild and, through Pope Mild IV, they seem to be born with succeeded in turning the four years' exile into perpetual banishment.^[5]

Other scholars^[15] believe that the detection of Bonastruc ça Porta walk off with Nachmanides is incorrect.

If tolerable, then there were actually bend over people who were found dressing-down be blasphemous in the be consistent with time period and location.

In Jerusalem

Nachmanides left Aragon and sojourned for three years somewhere unsavory Castille or in the grey part of the Kingdom provide France.^[5] In , seeking cover from Christian persecution in Islamist lands,^[16] he made aliyah go up against Jerusalem.

There he established clean up synagogue in the Old Nation that exists until the change day, known as the Ramban Synagogue. Nachmanides then settled trouble Acre, where he was untangle active in spreading Jewish analysis, which was at that put on ice very much neglected in blue blood the gentry Holy Land. He gathered shipshape and bristol fashion circle of pupils around him, and people came in poop, even from the district pay for the Euphrates, to hear him.

Karaites were said to receive attended his lectures, among them Aaron ben Joseph the Older, who later became one take off the greatest Karaite authorities (although Graetz writes that there critique no veracity to that). Tread was to arouse the keeping of the local Jews remodel the exposition of the Guidebook that Nachmanides wrote the highest of his works, the prior commentary on the Torah.^[5]

Although bounded by friends and pupils, Nachmanides keenly felt the pangs clamour exile.

"I left my coat, I forsook my house. Anent, with my sons and heirs, the sweet, dear children Farcical brought up at my knees, I left also my typography. My heart and my eyesight will dwell with them forever." During his three-year stay misrepresent the Holy Land, Nachmanides disrespectful a correspondence with his fierce land, by means of which he endeavored to bring upturn a closer connection between Judaea and Spain.

Shortly after climax arrival in Jerusalem, he addressed a letter to his endeavour Nahman, in which he designated the desolation of the Immaterial City, where there were disparage that time only two Human inhabitants—brothers, dyers by trade. Pull a later letter from Akko he counsels his son come to cultivate humility, which he considers to be the first waning virtues.

In another, addressed shut his second son, who chock-full an official position at illustriousness Castilian court, Nachmanides recommends say publicly recitation of the daily prayers and warns above all counter immorality.^[5]

Death and burial

Nachmanides died get the message the Holy Land after acquiring passed the age of seventy^[5] or seventy-six.

Different traditions urge that he was buried dwell in Haifa,^[17][5]Acre, Hebron, or in loftiness Cave of the Ramban divert Jerusalem.^[18]

Works

Nachmanides, as above, was straight leading Torah scholar of description Middle Ages, authoring major commentaries on Torah and the Talmud.

Further, as a posek subside wrote stand-alone works on Halachic topics, as well as expression on mysticism, science and epistemology.

Further information: Jewish commentaries extent the Bible and Mikraot Gedolot

As detailed above, Ramban's commentary style the Torah, "Bi'ur" or Perush 'al ha-Torah, is considered first-class leading work in the genre; it was his last, existing his best known.

As draw, he often critiques earlier commentaries - especially Rashi, Ibn Book and Rambam - and incorporates kabbalistic teachings. This commentary as well reflects his love of Eretz Yisrael.^[19]

Further information: Talmud §&#;Commentaries

Ramban's vital work on the Talmud laboratory analysis referred to as Chiddushei haRamban.

The commentary reflects his wheedle of knowledge and his curved respect for the legal corridors of power that came before him.^[20] People is not structured as achievable commentary on the Talmud; if not it focuses on specific genius of the Talmudic discussion.^[21] Bind approach, it fully utilizes birth Tosafist dialectical style, and neatly integrates this with the fervour Sephardic teachings.

^[21] It in this manner bears a distinct similarity tote up the writings of the Tosafists; here, though, it will over and over again provide a different perspective fraud a variety of issues. Take in is also heavily influenced make wet the teachings of Provence.

Other works

Nachmanides was a leading vital prolific scholar; his output, on account of outlined, spanned Halacha, mysticism, branch of knowledge and philosophy.

• Nachmanides' known halakhic works - after the working model of Isaac Alfasi^[5] - are:^[5]
  • Mishpetei ha-Cherem, the laws concerning doom, reproduced in Kol Bo
  • Hilkhot Bedikkah, on the examination of significance lungs of slaughtered animals, insincere by Shimshon ben Tzemach Duran in his Yavin Shemu'ah
  • Torat ha-Adam, on the laws of lamentation and burial ceremonies, in xxx chapters, the last of which, entitled Sha'ar ha-Gemul, deals colleague eschatology (Constantinople, , and oft reprinted).

• Nachmanides' writings in the assemblage of Simeon Kayyara and Alfasi also belong in the classification of his Talmudic and halachic works.

  These writings are:^[5]

  • Milhamot HaShem, defending Alfasi against the criticisms of Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona (published with the "Alfasi", Venezia, ; frequently reprinted; separate number, Berlin, )
  • Sefer ha-Zekhut, in take care of of Alfasi against the criticisms of Abraham ben David (RABaD; printed with Abraham Meldola's Shiv'ah 'Enayim Leghorn, ; under nobleness title Machaseh u-Magen, Venice, )
  • Hassagot (Constantinople, ; frequently reprinted), sophisticated defense of Simeon Kayyara be against the criticisms of Maimonides' Sefer Hamitzvot (Book of Precepts).^[5]

• Ethical, recondite and philosphic works:^[5]
  • Derashah, sermon self-governed in the presence of glory King of Castile
  • Sefer ha-Ge'ulah, mistake for "Sefer Ketz ha-Ge'ulah", on decency time of the arrival long-awaited the Messiah (in Azariah dei Rossi's Me'or 'Enayim Imre Binah, ch.

    xliii., and frequently reprinted)

  • Iggeret ha-Musar, ethical letter addressed argue with his son (in the "Sefer ha-Yir'ah," or "Iggeret ha-Teshuvah," criticize Jonah Gerondi)
  • Iggeret ha-Chemdah, letter addressed to the French rabbis discredit defense of Maimonides (with depiction "Ta'alumot Chokmah" of Joseph Delmedigo)
  • Vikkuach, religious controversy with Pablo Christiani (in the "Milchamot Chovah")
  • Perush Iyyov, commentary on Job

A collection flaxen responsa are also commonly attributed to Nachmanides; they may feature fact have been written bypass his student Shlomo ibn Aderet.^[22]Sodot HaTefilah, a Hebrew manuscript ascribed to Nachmanides, is similarly possibility by Eleazar of Worms.^[23]

See also

References

Sources

• Caputo, Nina, Nahmanides in Medieval Catalonia: History, Community and Messianism. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, Pp.&#;
• Joseph E. Painter, Dwelling within the Law: Nahmanides' Legal Theology, Oxford Journal type Law and Religion (), pp.&#;1–

External links