Quotes:Nahmanides

Zirkoff, Boris

Nahmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nahman). Jewish Talmudist and commentator, b. at Gerona, Spain, 1195; d. at Acre, Palestine, ca. 1270. Surnamed Gerondi, his Spanish name being Bonastruc de Porta. Initiated into Kabalah by Azriel and Ezra; at sixteen, wrote a defence of a Haladic work of Isaac Alfasi; this was followed by his commentaries to the greater part of the Talmud. His views were conservative and he fought against Maimonides’ rationalizing of Scriptures. Tried to reconcile the friends and opponents of Maimonides. Rejecting the Bible exegesis of Ibn Ezra, inclined towards Kabalah. Until 1263, practised medicine for self-support. Later became chief Rabbi of Gatalonia. Paulus Christiani (Fra Pablo), a renegade Jew, had challenged the Jews to a series of disputations. King James I of Aragon ordered Nahmanides to participate in discussions at Barcelona. He refuted arguments of Fra Pablo, but the Dominicans claimed victory. Nahmanides published the true account. He was charged with blasphemy and brought to trial. Dominicans succeeded in having him banished, so he set out for Palestine, 1267, settling at Acre. There he tried to bring new life into Jewish communities decimated by Mongol invasions, gathering disciples and lecturing. Compiled for them his comm, on Pentateuch, and is said to have sent a copy of the Zohar from Palestine to Spain, thus introducing it to the West. Was buried at Haifa, near grave of Jehiel of Paris.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, p. 385