Kotzk Podcast Ep006: Geniza document reveals first stirrings of anti-Maimonidean sentiment in Egypt
Listen now
Description
The Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (often referred to by his Hebrew acronym, RaMBaM) has come to be seen as the intellectual leader of the rationalist approach to Jewish tradition. However, his writings attracted fierce opposition from the Egyptian Jewish community of his day, which was deeply influenced by the mystical approaches of its Muslim neighbours. In this episode, Gavin and Jordan discuss documents from the Cairo Geniza, including a chance finding of a letter from a close associate of the RaMBaM that provides a window onto the controversies around his philosophical ideas. Read the original blog post at https://www.kotzkblog.com/2020/07/285-geniza-document-reveals-first.html