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| The thirteenth-century Moznei Tzedek by R. Avraham bar Chasdai, |
Introduction
I have based parts of this article on the research presented
in ‘Judaism Adventures,’ and have additionally included some of the original
Hebrew texts as well as other observations. For contextualisation, I have drawn
on Peter Cole’s The Dream and the Poem.[1]
Sefer Moznei Tzedek is a fascinating thirteenth-century work by R. Avraham bar Chasdai, also known as Ibn Chasdai, which gives us a rare window into rabbinical writings from around the time of Maimonides. Like Maimonides, Ibn Chasdai quotes Aristo (Aristotle) and he also is well-acquainted with Islamic teachings. He even cites sections of the Quran.
Ibn Chasdai, was a staunch follower of Maimonides, and fought against R. Yehuda ibn Alfakhar and R. Meir haLevi Abulafia to withdraw their opposition to the Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed). This is interesting because Ibn Chasdai went on adapt or translate a work by the Islamic mystic, al-Ghazali, which we shall soon explore.
