The Arcade Gallery - Show Case F
Jewish medicine (Rambam)
Jews that were limited in many fields were naturally diverted to professions that did not required ownership of land such as commerce, money handling and Medicine. They were the bridge between the Islamic knowledge and the West that was much behind. Not being related to any political group they could be trusted by all and thus, gained the reputation of the Jewish Physician Collection of Latin treatises, mainly medical by Maimonides, translated from Hebrew into Latin by the convert John of Capua, c. 1300.
Most of Maimonides’ writings were translated into Hebrew by the two outstanding Hebrew translators: Moses Ibn Tibbon and Natan Ha-Meati. They were soon translated into Latin and were widely read throughout Christian Europe becoming an essential part of medical teaching in the East and West.
Manuscript from Italy, (facsimile) beginning of 15th century, Harry Friedenwold Collection, Jewish Particularum detrarum libri Isac Ben Solomon Israeli’s medical tract on diet and simple remedies was considered one of the best of the Arabic works on this subject. A 14th century manuscript (facsimile). Both from National & University Library, Jerusalem. Photo Bet HaTfuzot Tel Aviv
The Rosenberg Museum of Medicine – All Rights Reserved Ben-Gurion University of the Negev – Faculty of Health Sciences