The רמב"ן Flashcards
What schools of thought had the רמב”ן been exposed to?
He was exposed to all 3:
Spanish - focus on the final הלכה
Northern France - focus on the true meaning of each word
Provence - blend of תורה and philosophy
Who was the רמב”ן? Tell us about his family and life. (who, may I ask, is ‘us’?)
The (רמב”ן (ר’ משה בן נחמן had 2 sons and one daughter. Aside from תורה and קבלה, he also studied philosophy and science, and practiced medicine for פרנסה. He was a great תלמיד חכם. He began his first ספר at age 16. (His grandson, the רלב”ג, was also famous for his פירוש on the חומש)
What were the רמב”ן’s Talmudic works?
His first ספר defended the teachings of the Spanish חכמים, especially the Rif, against the critcism of Provence. He also wrote ספר הזכות refuting the criticism of the Raavad. He also wrote a work in t the style of the Rif on the masechta’s he had left out. He also wrote ספר המצוות, a listing of the תרי”ג מצוות, and תורת האדם, dealing with the subject of death and mourning. He also wrote a פירוש on the חומש, and on the גמרא.
Explain about the רמב”ן’s role in different disputes.
He tried to mediate between those against the רמב”ם (and his ספר the מורה נבוחים) and those for him. He was mainly unsuccessful. He was also involved in a dispute with the משומד Pablo Christiani. He managed to get a promise from the king allowing him freedom of speech, and they debated in front of the king and noblemen. The debate dragged for 4 days before the king ended it.
What were the last years of the רמב”ן like?
Humiliated by their defeat, the Church officials convinced King James to punish the רמב”ן by burning his ספרים and exiling him from Spain for 2 years. The רמב”ן already an old man, decided to travel to ארץ ישראל, leaving his wife and family behind. He found ירושלים a wasteland, without even enough Jews for a מנין. He opened a shul, and from then onward, until today, there has always been a Jewish presence in ירושלים.
What story do they tell in connection with his passing?
When he left Spain, his תלמידים asked how they would know the time of his passing. He told them “on the day that I am נפתר, a crack will appear in my mothers gravestone.” 4 years later, the stone cracked.
