Ethical Will

While the “Ethical Will” of Judah Ibn Tibbon—written for his son Samuel—contains the usual tropes of this genre, such as charges to pursue wisdom and behave virtuously, it also includes several elements that make it unique, such as sharp criticisms of his son’s laziness, criticisms that are surprising given that Samuel later became an important translator in his own right. In keeping with Judah Ibn Tibbon’s cultural background and commitments, the text echoes important elements of the Arabic genre of ethical wills, or bequest literature, known as waṣīya.