Nahmanides

Nachmanides (* 1194 in Girona, † 1270 in Palestine, Moses ben Nachman actually, also known by the acronym Ramban (Hebrew רמב"ן ) derived from Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman ) was a Jewish doctor, rabbi, philosopher and poet of Catalonia.

Life

Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, Catalan Bonastruc ça Porta, comes from a family of scholars from Gerona, hence his nickname Rabbeinu Moses Gerondi. He was a descendant of Isaac ben Reuben of Barcelona and a cousin of Jonah Gerondi. Whether the rich merchant Benveniste as Porta Barcelona was his brother, is not assured. Nahmanides studied Jewish teaching, medicine and philosophy in Barcelona and is considered one of the most important Jewish religious scholars of his time.

From his teacher Judah ben Yakar, a pupil of Isaac ben Abraham of Dampierre, he learned the tradition of northern France Tosafists know, of Meir ben Isaac of Trinquetaille, methods of Provencal Jeschivot. He developed into one of the most influential religious and political figures of Jewish life in Catalonia. From 1264 to emigrate to Eretz Israel, he was a follower of Jonah ben Abraham Gerondi Chief Rabbi of Catalonia.

As in the years 1230-1232 the Maimonidesstreit had broken out again in Montpellier, Nahmanides was trying to act an arbitrator. On the one hand, he called the Spanish community leaders on to do nothing against the Maimonidesgegner of Provence, on the other hand he tried the French rabbis hold the spell of Maimonidesschriften. However, he was unsuccessful in his efforts.

Due to his learning and his reputation, he was also called upon by King James I of Aragon as a counselor in Jewish affairs. In 1263, he forced the king to participate in the defense of Barcelona and to represent the Jewish side against the converts and Christian apologists Pablo Christiani. After the disputation, which took place in the presence of the king and of the leading representatives of the Dominicans and the Franciscans in July 1263, Nahmanides was declared the winner. From the Bishop of Gerona, he was commissioned to document his remarks at the debate (published in Sefer ha - Ramban Ṿikuaḥ ). The Dominicans, who did not agree with the outcome of the conversation, trying Nachmanides 1265 for insulting the Christian faith to go to court. Only a letter of Pope Clement IV to the King moved Nachmanides to leave Catalonia and emigrate to the Holy Land.

In the summer of 1267, he arrived in Acre and went in the same year to Jerusalem. In a letter to his son, he described the dismal state of the city, which had been seven years earlier destroyed by the Tartar hordes. He started the few remaining Jews in a community to gather and established a synagogue and probably a yeshiva in the city. Reports on its activities spread rapidly, so again many Jewish settlers flocked to Jerusalem. In 1269 he returned to Acre and was, until his death in 1270 head of the local community. Location of his grave is not backed up. Some believe he was buried at the foot of Mount Carmel, others suspect that he was in Haifa on the side of Yehiel ben Joseph was buried in Paris.

From four of his offspring ( three sons and one daughter ) the names have survived. They were apparently still remained in Spain.

Work

Nachmanides unfolded in the flared at Maimonides ' writings Maimonidesstreit a mediating activity. His explanations of the Torah and the book of Job can recognize him as a sober facing rabbi who was influenced by the Kabbalah.