Page:Chapters on Jewish literature (IA chaptersonjewish00abra).pdf/140

136 other for the few. The former is his “Strong Hand” (Yad Hachazaka), the latter his “Guide of the Perplexed” (Morch Nebuchim).

The “Strong Hand” was a gigantic undertaking. In its fourteen books Maimonides presented a clearly-arranged and clearly-worded summary of the Rabbinical Halachah, or Law. In one sense it is an encyclopedia, but it is an encyclopedia written with style. For its power to grapple with vast materials, this code has few rivals and no superiors in other literatures. Maimonides completed its compilation in 1180, having spent ten years over it. During the whole of that time, he was not only a popular doctor, but also official Rabbi of Cairo. He received no salary from the community, for he said, “Better one penny earned by the work of one’s hands, than all the revenues of the Prince of the Captivity, if derived from fees for teaching or acting as Rabbi.” The “Strong Hand,” called also