those of Maimonides . Scholars throughout the ages have tried to understand if he found any justification for violating his own halakhic rulings by leaving the Land of Israel and settling in Egypt .
Estori(ben Moshe) HaParhi(1280-1355), prolific chronicler and topographic researcher of the Land of Israel, characterized Maimonides ’ situation in Egypt in his work Kaftor va-Ferah.>
[ heard in Egypt from the late R. Samuel, a descendent of the Rambam, ”* that when Maimonides signed his name on a letter, he would add:“The writer who transgresses three negative commandments every day.”
Scholars of several generations have refused to accept this evidence of the Rambam ’s repeated public confession. His autograph is found in original manuscripts of responsa, but never with these concluding remarks to which Estori HaParhi testifies.
Rabbi David ibn Zimri(Radbaz , 1480-1574), lived in Spain , Egypt , and the Land of Israel. In his commentary to Maimonides ’ prohibition to settle in Egypt , the Radbaz states:“If you should say that our Rabbi is contradicted by his own text, because he settled in Egypt , one might respond that he was compelled by the rulers, because he was physician in attendance to the Sultan and his ministers. I also lived a very long time in Egypt to study and teach Torah and even made it my domicile, which is permitted. Nonetheless, I returned
The Radbaz , in his apologetic defense of the Rambam , slipped in an autobiographical note that reveals the similarity between the two scholars’ establishing residency in the forbidden land. The apparent
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