UNESCO Holds Conclave on Maimonides

Leading Jewish, Christian and Moslem scholars from 15 countries paid tribute to Maimonides, the 10th century Jewish philosopher and theologian, at a conclave organized by the United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to mark the 850th anniversary of his birth.

Vitali Naumkin, of Moscow, a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, told the meeting, “Maimonides is perhaps the only philosopher in the Middle Ages, perhaps even now, who symbolized the confluence of four cultures: Greco-Roman, Arab, Jewish and Western.”

The Maimonides conference was first proposed two years ago by the World Jewish Congress at UNESCO’s General Conference. The UNESCO Executive Board adopted a resolution stressing the legacy of Maimonides and his “outstanding contribution to the dialogue between cultures.”

The two-day “round table on Maimonides” held at UNESCO headquarters here last week drew scholars from the U.S., France, Israel, the Soviet Union, West Germany, Spain, Senegal, Nigeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait, Iran, Egypt and Algeria. The keynote address was delivered by Amadou-Mahtar M’Bow, Director General of UNESCO. Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, WJC vice president, was elected chairman of the conference.

Papers delivered at the conference dealt with Maimonides as a philosopher and theologian; with the significance and scope of his work; and his importance for mutual understanding. Israel’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Meir Shamir, spoke at the opening of an exhibition of manuscripts loaned by the national library of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which were displayed in the main lobby of UNESCO headquarters.

Special posters were displayed throughout the UNESCO building and a booklet containing a tribute to Maimonides and selections from his writings was published for the occasion. Prof. Shlomo Pines of Jerusalem, considered the greatest living authority on Maimonides, delivered a paper on Maimonides as philosopher and theologian.