Cairo, Provence, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Jerusalem: a long and winding journey was taken by the extraordinarily beautiful manuscript now displayed in the National Library of Israel’s permanent exhibition in Jerusalem. This is the story of one of the rarest, and likely the most magnificent, copies of “Mishneh Torah” by Maimonides, among the most important works in the Jewish literary canon, and one that received dazzling and highly unconventional artistic treatment.
“I’m Famished”: The Excuse Maimonides Gave His Translator
From the moment he became chief physician at the royal court of Egypt, Maimonides found that he had almost no time left for anything else, not even to meet with the translator of his most famous work.
Maimonides’ Halakhic Revolution (and Why It Almost Worked)
Back in the Middle Ages, Maimonides set out on an extraordinary mission. His goal? To take all of Jewish law and tradition and condense it into one clear, orderly handbook that would finally get Jews to stop arguing. Spoiler alert: that didn’t quite happen.
The Letter of Apostasy: Maimonides as a Refugee
A glimpse of the Letter of Apostasy (“Iggeret HaShmad”) sent by Maimonides as a message to Jews who were forced to convert to Islam and now wished to return to Judaism
How a Handwritten 12th-Century Manuscript by Maimonides Ended Up at the National Library
The original manuscript of Maimonides’ “Commentary on the Mishnah”, including mistakes and corrections made by the master himself, can now be viewed by the public
A Receipt for Funds to Redeem Captives Signed by Maimonides
Did you know that Maimonides’ first public activity in Egypt was a large-scale mission to get Jews out of Crusader captivity?
