Jewish History: The Great Rabbis: Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef:
What is the history of Maimonides' father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef?
R. Maimon was a dayan (judge) in Cordova, Spain in the mid-1100's. He
composed commentaries on the Torah and Talmud and a book on the laws of
prayer, only fragments of which have survived, as well as a few responsa.
His son Mosheh (Maimonides) was born in 1135. The family left Cordova about
1150 because of religious persecution. Around 1160 they settled in Fez,
Morocco, but there too all the Jews were forced to accept Islam (publicly).
R. Maimon composed a Letter of Consolation to reassure these Jews that they
should not give up hope. In 1165 the family left Morocco for Eretz Yisroel,
where R. Maimon died.
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