Moses ben Maimon (Rambam)

Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Rambam, also known as Maimonides) was perhaps the greatest intellectual and spiritual figure of post-talmudic Judaism. He wrote indispensable works of philosophy, halakhah, commentary, and responsa. Born in Spain, his family fled while he was still a youth. After an extended period in Morocco, he settled in Egypt, where he became the naggid (leader) of the Jewish community. His works were all foundational in their field. He was the first to produce a comprehensive commentary on the entire Mishnah. His great work of philosophy, Moreh Nevukhim, spawned an entire discipline and had incalculable influence upon enthusiastic promoters and vehement opponents alike. His code of law, Mishneh Torah, is the first and unsurpassed comprehensive code of Jewish law and practice. He also served as court physician to the Muslim leader Saladin. All of his works were written in Judeo-Arabic except for Mishneh Torah, which was written in a magnificent Hebrew. The precision of his expression is legendary. His descendants served as the leaders of the Egyptian Jewish community for another four generations.