Studying the Jewish teacher from the 1300’s Ramban (love how they all got nicknames!) better known as Maimonodes today.
Real name Nahmanides! Wow, I knew he translated Torah and Talmud (all 63 volumes of it!), but didn’t know he made Aliyah or pilgrimage to Jerusalem found her in shambles because of those Crusaders (who mainly built fortresses, but weren’t great at gardening or humor or kind to jews-alas not the best in christian history, and they didn’t even made good beer!), so he built a synagogue and yeshiva or learning center, in Jerusalem that is still in use today!
Wow, you never know what people did, til you read their stories!
Of course, some orthodox didn’t like him, as he was a bit of a Philo (early second temple philosopher who translated lots of jewish thinking into greek categories of thought!) character, being familiar with secular philosophies, and translating some religious ideas into those categories (hello St Paul!).
But Ramdan did write the 13 principles which are still in use today by most jews—and include resurrection and expectancy for a messiah and messianic age. For those Christians who like that idea! Ok, this fellow had a thought or two in his life. Honor your parents as the book tells us! The only narcissistic commandment—if you do so, it will go well with you! And you’ll live long and prosper!
And he was sepharic (western Iberian and those great Portuguese Jews who when Columbus was sailing the ocean blue, got kicked out of their countries! Many of whom moved to The Land, and started new streams of judaism including mysticism!), which is ironic given the historical tensions between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews, which still occurs! Anyway, fun studying these high impact fellows today!