Abstract
Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, or The “Rambam” (a Hebrew acronym for his name), was one of the greatest arbiters of all times on matters of Jewish law, one of the greatest philosophers of the Middle Ages, a scientist, and a researcher. In addition, he was a court physician to the Egyptian Sultan. In addition to his monumental work on Jewish law and ethics, his writings on medicine have been considered classics over the generations. The aim of this paper is to assess Maimonides’ health regimen and to compare his dietary recommendations with contemporary dietary regimens. To this end, Maimonides’ recommendations were compared to the modern guidelines of the United States, the Netherlands, and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as to the Mediterranean diet, which is popular worldwide. Both marked similarities and contrasts were noted between Maimonides’ and modern recommendations. Most of Maimonides’ medical recommendations remain relevant more than 800 years later.
Highlights
Rabbi Moses Maimonides, the Rambam, was born his time, and his Halachic works and recommendain Cordoba, Spain on March 30th, 1135.1 Maimoni- tions have become integral to modern-day Judaism. des was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people of In addition, he was a pre-eminent physician and Rambam Maimonides Med J | www.rmmj.org.ilMaimonides’s Health Regimen: Contemporary Scenario would eventually become the personal physician to the son of Saladin, al-Malik al-Afdal, the Sultan of Cairo
Rabbi Moses Maimonides, the Rambam, was born his time, and his Halachic works and recommendain Cordoba, Spain on March 30th, 1135.1 Maimoni- tions have become integral to modern-day Judaism. des was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people of In addition, he was a pre-eminent physician and Abbreviations: US, United States; WHO, World Health Organization
He carefully examined the medical practice of the people among whom he lived and synthesized a unique practice of medicine that combined what his observations indicated were best for all humanity
Summary
Rabbi Moses Maimonides, the Rambam, was born his time, and his Halachic works and recommendain Cordoba, Spain on March 30th, 1135.1 Maimoni- tions have become integral to modern-day Judaism. des was the spiritual leader of the Jewish people of In addition, he was a pre-eminent physician and Rambam Maimonides Med J | www.rmmj.org.ilMaimonides’s Health Regimen: Contemporary Scenario would eventually become the personal physician to the son of Saladin, al-Malik al-Afdal, the Sultan of Cairo. This began a lifetime of exile in which he became established in different nations, only to have to move yet again In his lifetime he lived in Cordoba, Spain; Fez, Morocco; Acco, Israel; Alexandria and Fustat (Old Cairo), Egypt; and he visited numerous countries in between. As a rabbi, he was fully conversant with the Hebrew scriptures and all the Talmudic writings. A consummate researcher and physician, Maimonides was highly trained and knowledgeable of the writings of Galen, Hippocrates, and Aristotle, the medical writings of ancient Egyptian scholars, and he often quoted the writings of Spanish-Moslem Arabic physicians.[2,3] He carefully examined the medical practice of the people among whom he lived and synthesized a unique practice of medicine that combined what his observations indicated were best for all humanity. When Maimonides arrives, all suffering departs.”[4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
