Letter to the Jewish Leaders of Lunel

Who is this that shineth forth like a morning dawn, beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awesome as armies encamped around their banners? (Song of Songs 6:10)

This Biblical imagery is reminiscent of the sacred community, which constitutes the chief cornerstone upon whose heart the Torah is engraved and whose bows in the battle for Torah are fashioned out of bronze and whose leaders alone are in our day its authentic representatives. Alas, it is the community of Lunel with its esteemed scholars and distinguished leaders, may the Lord forever take them under His protection and may peace increasingly reign within their borders.

This comes from Moses, son of Maimon, who prays for your abiding welfare and the strengthening of the edifice of wisdom through your efforts.

I received your letters signed by men of such high rank, all of whom I bless collectively and individually with the ancient salutation, The Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times so many more as you are and bless you as He hath promised you (Deuteronomy 1:11). Your words expressed in verse and in the form of questions disclose a love of Torah, an intense pursuit of wisdom and an unquenchable desire for knowledge. I am, of course, aware that the signers of the letters represent our notables, priests and levites, all of whom are community leaders, men of distinction and intellectual excellence. May their fame continue together with other men of high repute in the land.

My esteemed friends, let not the delay of my answer disturb you. I have already indicated the reason for this in a letter to the esteemed scholar, Rabbi Jonathan Hakohen, may his life be prolonged and God’s treasure prosper through him. Amen. I have already responded to your doubts and I enclose with this letter the third part of the Moreh Nebukhim written in Arabic. As for your request that I translate for you the Arabic text into the holy tongue, would that I were young enough to be able to comply with your request with regard to this and other books which I composed in the language of the Kedar.¹ Living among the latter casts darkness upon the rays of the sun.² Indeed I would have rejoiced to rescue the precious from the worthless and restore the stolen goods to the proper owner. But the distressing circumstances of the times prevented me from doing so. I do not even have the time to examine or proofread for publication the commentaries and the other works I composed in the rabbinic language that may contain some obscurities, to say nothing of translating them from one language to another. Alas, my honored friends, I do not even have the leisure to write a small chapter and it is only out of respect for your congregation that I have painfully exerted myself to write you this epistle with my own hand.

But there is among you the learned, blessed son, esteemed student R. Samuel ben Judah [ibn Tibbon] whom the Lord has endowed with understanding, breadth of heart, correct insight and perfect penmanship necessary for the translation you requested. I have already communicated with him regarding this matter.

As for yourselves, my esteemed friends, be confident and strong of heart! For, alas, I am constrained to inform you that in our day the people of your community and only a few of the neighboring communities stand alone in raising the banner of Moses and engaging in the study of the Talmud and in the pursuit of wisdom. Your people are preeminent in cherishing knowledge and wisdom. But in other communities in the East, the study of the Torah has ceased and especially is this true in most of the larger cities where a process of spiritual decay has set in. In all of Palestine there are only three or four Jewish places that have survived, and even they are spiritually impoverished. In Syria, as well, there is only the community of Aleppo where some people are still engaged in the study of Torah, although they are not prepared to sacrifice themselves for it. In the Babylonian Diaspora there are only two or three grapes [men of learning]: in Yemen and the rest of Arabia they know little of the Talmud save for having some superficial acquaintance with Aggadic expositions.

Recently, however, some philanthropists, may God bless them, contributed toward the purchase of copies of my Code and dispatched messengers to these countries to distribute at least one copy to each community. This act helped to illuminate their vision and the religious life in their communities, as far away as India, would be revitalized. For the people of India were completely ignorant of the Torah and all religious observances. They practiced only the laws of the Sabbath and circumcision. In the towns of Turkey which belong to the realm of Islam, the Jews pursued only the Written Law and observed its commandments according to their literal meaning. As for the Western cities [in North Africa], the punishment inflicted upon them for their sins [of neglecting the Torah] is well known.³ Thus there remains no one in support of our Torah except you, my redeeming brethren.

Be therefore strong and fortify yourself for the sake of our people and our God. Strive to be courageous men, for everything depends on you. Upon you devolves the command of fulfilling the levirite precept. Do not rely upon me to carry on the battle as I can no longer navigate. I am an old man and grey, not from aging but from a weak, worn out body. May the Creator support your efforts and render you a famous name and praise you in the midst of the earth [see Zephaniah 3:19, 20].