The Corporeal, the Physical, and Work in Maimonides’ Teachings

Rabbinical literature has an ambivalent attitude toward work. Some see work as a religious value: “Great is labor, as just as Israel were commanded to keep the Sabbath, thus they were commanded to perform labor, as it is said: ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work’”. However, others see work as a mere existential need. The current article seeks to comprehend the attitude of R. Moses ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides (1138–1204, Spain–Egypt), to the corporeal, the physical, and work.