Overview
Naḥmanides
(1194—1270)
Quick Reference
Spanish Talmudist, Kabbalist, and biblical exegete (1194–1270), known, after the initial letters of his name, as Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman). Nahmanides was born in Gerona, Spain, where he lived for most of his life. An outstanding Talmudist, his work in this field still enjoys the highest esteem among students of the Talmud. As a Halakhic authority, he exercised a great influence on the Codes of Jewish law, especially through the Responsa of his most distinguished disciple, Solomon Ibn Adret. Nahmanides was also the leading figure in the Gerona circle of Kabbalists. Indeed, it was through his renown as a Talmudist that respectability was won for the Spanish Kabbalah; though he was very circumspect in sharing his Kabbalistic insights, referring to them, for instance, in his Commentary to the Pentateuch, only by hint. Nahmanides was on very good terms with Christian notables, including King James I of Aragon. In the famous disputation in Barcelona with the convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani, in the presence of the king, Nahmanides emerged the victor and was rewarded by the king. But this victory aroused the ire of the Dominicans with the result that Nahmanides, at the age of 70, was forced to leave Spain for the land of Israel, where he settled in Acre, compiling there his great Commentary. During a stay in Jerusalem, Nahmanides worshipped in a synagogue that has recently been excavated and partially rebuilt and is now a tourist attraction in the Old City.
In his Commentary, one of the standard biblical commentaries which took its place side by side with that of Rashi, Nahmanides tries, wherever possible, to arrive at the plain meaning of the text. At the same time, he believes that the Torah has a deeper, inner meaning as a mystical text. For instance, he accepts the Kabbalistic view that on one level the Torah is a series of combinations of divine names and goes far beyond the actual narratives, which is why, for him, the Torah, in this mystical sense, preceded the events of Moses' life, even though the book of Genesis, dealing with events before Moses was born, was also given by God to Moses. The mystical Torah actually preceded the creation of the world. Even on the level of the plain meaning, Nahmanides rejects the rationalizations of Maimonides. According to Maimonides all biblical references to angels appearing to men refer to their appearances in dreams. Nahmanides finds such a notion contrary to the meaning of the texts which clearly speak of actual appearances, as in Genesis 18: 1–15 and the continuation of the narrative.
Subjects: Religion
