The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1453 page)

(1753–1800)
. Jewish philosopher. He was the author of
Versuch ueber die Transzendentalphilosophie
(1790),
Streifereien im Gebiete der Philosophie
(1793), three works on the history of philosophy, a philosophical lexicon, and a commentary on
Maimonides'
Guide of the Perplexed
. He was condemned as a heretic and denied burial in a Jewish cemetery, mainly as a consequence of his evident subordination of revelation to reason.

 
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Maimonidean controversy
.

Jewish controversy (in fact, more than one) centring on the themes discussed by the philosopher
Maimonides
. Scholars such as Meir
Abulafia
were appalled by Maimonides' apparent rejection of the doctrine of the
resurrection
of the dead. A
erem
(excommunicatory ban) was pronounced on Maimonides' philosophical work. In the West, the controversy was halted by the burning of Maimonides' books by the Christian
Dominicans
in 1232. It was continued in the East by Maimonides' son, Abraham, although the desecration of Maimonides' tomb in Tiberias was a profound shock to all concerned. This tension between the anti-rationalists and the rationalists continued through the Middle Ages and is to be seen in such disputes as that between Moses
Isserles
and Solomon b. Jehiel
Luria
in the 16th cent.

 
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Maimonides, Moses
,
Moses b. Maimon, or Rambam

(1135–1204).
Jewish philosopher and codifier. Maimonides grew up in Cordova, but as a result of persecution, the family eventually moved to Fez in N. Africa after years of wandering. During this period he wrote treatises on the Jewish calendar, logic, and
halakhah
. In 1168, he completed his commentary on the
Mishnah
. In 1170–80, he worked on his great code, the
Mishneh Torah
(The Repetition of the Law, sometimes known as ‘The Strong Hand’). The purpose of this work was ‘so that the entire
Oral Law
might become systematically known to all’. This codification of the Law was fiercely criticized by such as
Abraham
b. David of Posquières (see
MAIMONIDEAN CONTROVERSY
). His great philosophical work, The
Guide of the Perplexed
(Heb.,
Moreh Nevukhim
) was influenced by Aristotle and the
Hellenistic
commentators Alexander of Aphrodisias, Themistius, and Averroes, and also by the Muslim philosopher
al-F
r
b
. The
Guide
shows ‘the perplexed’ how scripture can be interpreted spiritually as well as literally, and Maimonides aimed to reveal to his readers ‘the science of the Law in its true sense’. To this end, he discussed God, creation, the nature of evil, divine providence, and morality. He also formulated his
thirteen principles of the Jewish faith
which he believed every Jew was bound to accept. He is also remembered as a significant physician and astronomer.

 
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Maimuna
.

Celebration among some Jews (especially in or from N. Africa) of the last day of
Passover
. Maimuna is celebrated in many eastern Jewish communities with special foods and picnics. Traditionally it is also the anniversary of the death of Moses
Maimonides'
father.

 
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