A challenging look at two great Jewish philosophers, and what their thinking means to our understanding of God, truth, revelation and reason.

Moses Maimonides (1138-1204) is Jewish history's greatest exponent of a rational, philosophically sound Judaism. He strove to reconcile the teachings of the Bible and rabbinic tradition with the principles of Aristotelian philosophy, arguing that religion and philosophy ultimately must arrive at the same truth.

Baruch Spinoza (1632-77) is Jewish history's most illustrious "heretic." He believed that truth could be attained through...

The teachings of Judaism's greatest medieval philosopher can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.

No Jewish thinker has had a more significant impact on Jewish religious thought than Moses Maimonides (1138-1204). A medieval philosopher whose vision covered an extensive range, he created a method of mediating between revelation and reason that laid the groundwork for a rational, philosophically sophisticated Judaism. He also provided an approach to biblical interpretation and philosophy that remains relevant for people of all faiths who follow a religion...

Who were the Sephardic Jews of the Ottoman Empire? What lasting lessons does their spiritual life provide for future generations?

"How did the Judeo-Spanish-speaking Jews of the Ottoman Empire manage to achieve spiritual triumph? To answer this question, we need to have a firm understanding of their historical experience.... We need to be aware of the dark, unpleasant elements in their environments; but we also need to see the spiritual, cultural light in their dwellings that imbued their lives with meaning and honor."
--from Chapter 1, "The Inner Life of the...