Editing Maimonides (section)

==Influence and legacy==
[[File:Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides.jpg|thumb|The title page of ''[[The Guide for the Perplexed]]'']]
Maimonides' {{transliteration|he|Mishneh Torah}} is considered by Jews even today as one of the chief authoritative codifications of Jewish law and ethics. It is exceptional for its logical construction, concise and clear expression and extraordinary learning, so that it became a standard against which other later codifications were often measured.<ref>Isidore Twersky, ''Introduction to the Code of Maimonides (Mishneh Torah)'', Yale Judaica Series, vol. XII (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1980), passim, and especially Chapter VII, "Epilogue," pp. 515–38.</ref> It is still closely studied in rabbinic {{transliteration|he|yeshivot}} (seminaries). The first to compile a comprehensive lexicon containing an alphabetically arranged list of difficult words found in Maimonides' {{transliteration|he|Mishneh Torah}} was [[Tanhum ha-Yerushalmi|Tanḥum ha-Yerushalmi]] (1220–1291).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Reif |first=Stefan C. |author-link=Stefan Reif |title=Review of 'Sobre la Vida y Obra de Maimonides' | editor = Jesus Pelaez del Rosal|journal=[[Journal of Semitic Studies]] |date=1994 |volume=39 |issue= 1 |page=124 |doi=10.1093/jss/XXXIX.1.123}}</ref> A popular medieval saying that also served as his [[epitaph]] states, "From [[Moses|Mosheh]] [of the Torah] to Mosheh [Maimonides] there was none like Mosheh." It chiefly referred to his rabbinic writings.

However, Maimonides was also one of the most influential figures in medieval Jewish philosophy. His adaptation of [[Aristotelianism|Aristotelian thought]] to Biblical faith deeply impressed later Jewish thinkers, and had an unexpected immediate historical impact.<ref>This is covered in all histories of the Jews. E.g., including such a brief overview as Cecil Roth, ''A History of the Jews'', Revised Edition (New York: Schocken, 1970), pp. 175–179.</ref> Some more acculturated Jews in the century that followed his death, particularly in Spain, sought to apply Maimonides' Aristotelianism in ways that undercut traditionalist belief and observance, giving rise to an [[Maimonidean Controversy|intellectual controversy]] in Spanish and southern French Jewish circles.<ref>D.J. Silver, ''Maimonidean Criticism and the Maimonidean Controversy, 1180–1240'' (Leiden: Brill, 1965), is still the most detailed account.</ref> The intensity of debate spurred Catholic Church interventions against "heresy" and a general confiscation of rabbinic texts.

In reaction, the more radical interpretations of Maimonides were defeated. At least amongst Ashkenazi Jews, there was a tendency to ignore his specifically philosophical writings and to stress instead the rabbinic and halakhic writings. These writings often included considerable philosophical chapters or discussions in support of halakhic observance; [[David Hartman (rabbi)|David Hartman]] observes that Maimonides clearly expressed "the traditional support for a philosophical understanding of God both in the Aggadah of Talmud and in the behavior of the hasid [the pious Jew]."<ref>David Hartman, ''Maimonides: Torah and Philosophic Quest'' (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1976), p. 98.</ref> Maimonidean thought continues to influence traditionally observant Jews.<ref>On the extensive philosophical aspects of Maimonides' halakhic works, see in particular Isidore Twersky's ''Introduction to the Code of Maimonides (Mishneh Torah)'', Yale Judaica Series, vol. XII (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1980). Twersky devotes a major portion of this authoritative study to the philosophical aspects of the ''Mishneh Torah'' itself.</ref><ref>The Maimunist or Maimonidean controversy is covered in all histories of Jewish philosophy and general histories of the Jews. For an overview, with bibliographic references, see Idit Dobbs-Weinstein, "The Maimonidean Controversy," in ''History of Jewish Philosophy'', Second Edition, edited by Daniel H. Frank and Oliver Leaman (London and New York: Routledge, 2003), pp. 331–349. Also see Colette Sirat, ''A History of Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985), pp. 205–272.</ref>

The most rigorous medieval critique of Maimonides is [[Hasdai Crescas]]' {{transliteration|he|[[Or Adonai]]}}. Crescas bucked the eclectic trend, by demolishing the certainty of the Aristotelian world-view, not only in religious matters but also in the most basic areas of medieval science (such as physics and geometry). Crescas' critique provoked a number of 15th-century scholars to write defenses of Maimonides.

Because of his path-finding synthesis of Aristotle and Biblical faith, Maimonides had an influence on Christian theologian [[Thomas Aquinas]] who refers to Maimonides in several of his works, including the ''[[Commentary on the Sentences]]''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mercedes Rubio|title=Aquinas and Maimonides on the possibility of the knowledge of god |url=https://archive.org/details/aquinasmaimonide00rubi|url-access=limited|pages=11, [https://archive.org/details/aquinasmaimonide00rubi/page/n71 65]–126, 211, 218 |publisher=[[Springer-Verlag]] |year=2006 |doi=10.1007/1-4020-4747-9_2 |isbn=978-1-4020-4720-6|chapter=Aquinas and Maimonides on the Divine Names }}</ref>

Maimonides' combined abilities in the fields of theology, philosophy and medicine make his work attractive today as a source during discussions of evolving norms in these fields, particularly medicine. An example is the modern citation of his method of determining death of the body in the controversy regarding declaration of death to permit [[organ donation]] for [[Organ transplantation|transplantation]].<ref>Vivian McAlister, ''Maimonides's cooling period and organ retrieval'' ([[Canadian Journal of Surgery]] 2004; 47: 8 – 9)</ref>

===Maimonides and the Modernists===
[[File:Maimonides, at Rambam Medical Center (square).jpg|thumb |left|Plaque of Maimonides at Rambam Medical Center, [[Haifa]]]]
Maimonides remains one of the most widely debated Jewish thinkers among modern scholars. He has been adopted as a symbol and an intellectual hero by almost all major movements in modern Judaism, and has proven important to philosophers such as [[Leo Strauss]]; and his views on the importance of [[humility]] have been taken up by modern [[humanism|humanist]] philosophers.
In academia, particularly within the area of Jewish Studies, the teaching of Maimonides has been dominated by traditional scholars, generally Orthodox, who place a very strong emphasis on Maimonides as a rationalist; one result is that certain sides of Maimonides' thought, including his opposition to [[anthropocentrism]], have been obviated.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} There are movements in some postmodern circles to claim Maimonides for other purposes, as within the discourse of [[ecotheology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neohasid.org/torah/rambam/|title=NeoHasid.org &#124; Rambam and Gaia|website=neohasid.org|access-date=11 December 2013|archive-date=8 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208213823/http://www.neohasid.org/torah/rambam/|url-status=live}}</ref> Maimonides' reconciliation of the philosophical and the traditional has given his legacy an extremely diverse and dynamic quality.

===Tributes and memorials===
[[File:Israel 1 Sheqel 1986 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|thumb|Maimonides used to be on the [[Israeli new shekel#Series A (1985–1999)|1 ILS banknote]].]]
Maimonides has been memorialized in numerous ways. For example, one of the Learning Communities at the [[Tufts University School of Medicine]] bears his name. There is also [[Maimonides School]] in [[Brookline, Massachusetts]], [[Maimonides Academy School]] in [[Los Angeles, California]], [[Lycée Maïmonide]] in Casablanca, the Brauser Maimonides Academy in [[Hollywood, Florida]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floridajewishnews.com/site/a/major_grant_awarded_to_maimonides/ |work=Florida Jewish Journal |title=Major Grant Awarded to Maimonides |author=David Morris |access-date=13 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730212312/http://www.floridajewishnews.com/site/a/major_grant_awarded_to_maimonides/ |archive-date=30 July 2007 }}</ref> and [[Maimonides Medical Center]] in [[Brooklyn]], New York. [[Beit Harambam Congregation]], a Sephardi synagogue in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, is named after him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58152263/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|title=Fear meets fellowship|first=Jane|last=Eisner|date=1 June 2000|page=25|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=29 August 2020|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123194859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58152263/the-philadelphia-inquirer/|url-status=live}}{{open access}}</ref>

Issued from 8 May 1986 to 1995,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.leftovercurrency.com/exchange/israeli-new-shekel/demonetized-israeli-new-shekel-banknotes/1-israeli-new-shekel-banknote-rabbi-moses-maimonides/ | title=1 Israeli New Shekel (Rabbi Moses Maimonides) – exchange yours | newspaper=Leftover Currency }}</ref> the Series A of the [[Israeli New Shekel]] featured an illustration of Maimonides on the obverse and the place of his burial in [[Tiberias]] on the reverse on its 1-shekel bill.<ref>{{cite book|last=Linzmayer|first=Owen|title=The Banknote Book|chapter=Israel|publisher=BanknoteNews.com|year=2012|location=San Francisco, CA|chapter-url=http://www.banknotebook.com|access-date=25 December 2021|archive-date=29 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829063428/http://www.banknotebook.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004, conferences were held at [[Yale University]], [[Florida International University]], [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]], and [[Rambam Health Care Campus|Rambam Hospital]] in [[Haifa]], Israel, which is named after him. To commemorate the 800th anniversary of his death, [[Harvard University]] issued a memorial volume.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/HARMAM.html |title=Harvard University Press: Maimonides after 800 Years : Essays on Maimonides and his Influence by Jay M. Harris |publisher=Hup.harvard.edu |access-date=13 March 2010 |archive-date=19 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519030853/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/HARMAM.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1953, the Israel Postal Authority issued a [[postage stamp]] of Maimonides, pictured.

In March 2008, during the [[Euro-Mediterranean Partnership|Euromed]] Conference of Ministers of Tourism, The Tourism Ministries of Israel, Morocco and Spain agreed to work together on a joint project that will trace the footsteps of the Rambam and thus boost religious tourism in the cities of Córdoba, Fez and [[Tiberias]].<ref>Shelly Paz (8 May 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718101800/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627041328&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Tourism Ministry plans joint project with Morocco, Spain]. ''The Jerusalem Post''</ref>

Between December 2018 and January 2019 the [[Israel Museum]] held a special exhibit dedicated to the writings of Maimonides.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/maimonides|title= Maimonides | place = Jerusalem|website=The Israel Museum |date=2 October 2018|access-date=11 July 2019|archive-date=20 May 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190520012052/https://www.imj.org.il/en/exhibitions/maimonides |url-status=live}}</ref>