And now we move on to Moses Maimonides, born
1135, died 1204.
This gentle Hebrew stands here, hands clasped
in meditation.
One senses the aura of asceticism with which
his life was surrounded.
Rabbi and doctor, an example of persecution
provoking philosophy.
Notice his posture. He faces to your left, to
the past,
to indicate the pause in the progress of
medicine since these were the dark ages.
He wears the Arabian robe and turban, dressed
as physician to the great Saladin.
He also wears the medal presented to him as the
court physician.
The technique here is lower relief, less
physical, more mental, more spiritual.
A more gentle approach for this gentle
philosophical scholar.
This is a quotation from a daily prayer
generally accredited to have been written by Maimonides.
Endow me with strength of heart and mind, so
that both may be ever ready to serve the rich
and the poor,
friend and enemy, and may I never see in a
patient anything but a fellow creature in pain.