Maimonides Grand Epistle to the Scholars of Lunel: Ideology and Rhetoric

Scholars in Lunel corresponded with Maimonides regarding various decisions in his Mishneh Torah (Code). Maimonides' rejoinder opened with an unusual rhymed prose epistle, translated and annotated here for the first time by Charles H. Sheer. The author explores Maimonides' letter in the context of his other works and compositions of the late Middle Ages, uncovering biblical passages embedded in the epistle, and illustrating how Maimonides shared his ideological struggle between study of Torah and "hokhmah" (philosophy, wisdom).