Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Islamic Spain and The Jewish Philosopher "Maimonides"

I think it is interesting to note that historically, the Jewish community has prospered under Muslim rule, especially in Islamic Spain, Safavid Persia and Ottoman Turkey. Let's take the case of "Maimonedes" for example. He was one of the greatest Jewish philosophers of his time and was a product of his environment of being able to prosper in Islamic Spain. "Although his copious works on Jewish law and ethics were initially met with opposition during his lifetime, he was posthumously acknowledged to be one of the foremost rabbinical arbiters and philosophers in Jewish history. Today, his works and his views are considered a cornerstone of Jewish thought and study." I wish Pamela Gellar would read more about Jews living under Muslim rule in Almoravid Spain, Ottoman Turkey, Safavid Persia, and so on. She would discover that Jews lived very prosperous lives and were allowed to live in peace. The recent Anti-Semitism in North Africa and West Asia (aka Middle East) is a result of the Palestinian issue that was a result of improper Imperial British Mandating after destroying the Ottoman Empire. But this is nothing new, considering how the United States of America had to deal with the British Empire as well. Every place the British Empire went, they created strife, disunity, and discord. We see the results of their actions until today. When the situation in Palestine is eventually solved and peace is found, then maybe more Jews and Muslims may become more trusting and friendly with one another.

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