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Click here for a video course preview from instructor Rabbi David Starr!

Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) was born during the end of the golden age of Jewish culture on the Iberian Peninsula and spent the first half of his life there. His family fled persecution and he spent the rest of his life in the Middle East as a physician.

Maimonides wrote medical treatises that influenced generations of physicians. He wrote the monumental compilation of Jewish Law called the “Mishnah Torah” and the popular but controversial "The Guide for the Perplexed".

In this 5 session course Rabbi Starr will introduce us to the 13th century world that shaped Maimonides’ life. He will survey the scope of Maimonides writings on medicine, philosophy and Judaism. Then we will spend three sessions learning about how  Maimonides’ philosophical and Judaic writings bridged the gap between our Biblical faith and Aristotle's rationalism to help create modern Judaism.

The course will be a combination of lecture and discussion. All readings will be done in class in English.

Sessions:

1: Maimonides: the Man in His World

2: Maimonides the Artist: His Writings

3: Interpreting and Transforming Judaism I: What is Idolatry?

4: Interpreting and Transforming Judaism II:  Humanity and the Natural World

5: Interpreting and Transforming Judaism III:  Judaism and Worldly Wisdom