Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited the Tomb of Maimonides in Tiberias on Wednesday to pray for the well-being and swift return of the 59 hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Herzog also prayed for the success and safety of Israeli security forces, for the recovery of the wounded—both physically and emotionally—and for the memory of the fallen.
Maimonides, otherwise known as the Rambam or Moshe Ben Maimon, is one of the most universally celebrated Torah scholars in Jewish history, as well as a philosopher and astronomer.
He was born in Cordoba, Spain, in 1138, but his family fled to Morocco during the monarchy’s forced conversion of Jews. He wrote some of his most important works there before settling in Egypt.
He became the chief rabbi of Cairo and a renowned physician before he passed away in 1204. Tradition states that his remains were brought to Israel and buried in Tiberias, as per his request. His tomb stands there to this day.
