🎓 The controversy about Rambam's theological stances, halachic method, and legal rulings, which simmered from the time of Raavad and Ramah, exploded in the 1230s with a fierce cross-communal debate.
Thanks for the great presentation of this stage of the controversy, especially the insights about the poor quality of the manuscripts involved.
I take issue, however, with how you described Ramban's stance as "equivocal." Although he is somewhat more conciliatory than some of Maimonides most staunch defenders, his overall direction is extremely supportive of Rambam, with perhaps a line or two thrown in to balance things out. In general, too, I'm aware that many academics view Rambam and Ramban as very different schools of thought - rationalist vs. Kabbalist - but a close reading of the vast array of their writing suggests they are far closer than a superficial reading would suggest.
(I'm in the middle of a multi-year project that will present my viewpoint on this subject by synthesizing the works of Rambam and Ramchal (another Kabbalist, like Ramban) into a single presentation on the fundamentals of Jewish faith.)
Thanks for the great presentation of this stage of the controversy, especially the insights about the poor quality of the manuscripts involved.
I take issue, however, with how you described Ramban's stance as "equivocal." Although he is somewhat more conciliatory than some of Maimonides most staunch defenders, his overall direction is extremely supportive of Rambam, with perhaps a line or two thrown in to balance things out. In general, too, I'm aware that many academics view Rambam and Ramban as very different schools of thought - rationalist vs. Kabbalist - but a close reading of the vast array of their writing suggests they are far closer than a superficial reading would suggest.
(I'm in the middle of a multi-year project that will present my viewpoint on this subject by synthesizing the works of Rambam and Ramchal (another Kabbalist, like Ramban) into a single presentation on the fundamentals of Jewish faith.)