The Lost Wisdom of Rambam: A Practical Guide to Ancient Teaching for Body and Soul
by Remi Haik Weinberg

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as the Rambam or Maimonides, is best known for synthesizing Jewish thought with Aristotelian philosophy in The Guide for the Perplexed and for codifying Jewish law and custom in the Mishneh Torah. Less widely appreciated, perhaps, is the fact that the 12th-century rabbi was also trained in medicine in Spain and Morocco.

Indeed, among his writings are opinions on a host of health topics, from stopping food intake well before going to bed (he recommends two to three hours prior to sleep­) to advising against a sedentary lifestyle. Good food is not enough, he explains, moving around is essential.

In The Lost Wisdom of Rambam, Remi Haik Weinberg draws on Maimonides’ medical teachings, most taken from passages in the Mishneh Torah, using them as touchstones for practical, accessible guidance on proper nutrition, gut health, hydration, physical movement and mental well-being.

In her introduction, Weinberg, a certified naturopath and nutritionist and personal trainer as well as a member of Hadassah, describes first encountering Rambam’s writings while studying Jewish texts in Israel. She came to see him not only as an authority on Jewish law and philosophy, but also as a spiritual leader deeply attuned to health and wellness.

“Rambam’s approach to health was not merely about alleviating symptoms,” she writes, “but about nurturing the person as a whole—body, mind, and soul.” His emphasis on preventive care and moderation was revolutionary in his own time and remains deeply relevant today, she argues.

That philosophy, Weinberg writes, is articulated clearly in a quote from the Mishneh Torah:

“If a person cares for himself as he should, conducts his affairs properly, and guards himself according to the natural ways I have explained, I guarantee that he will not be ill all his days, and will die only of old age (Hilchot De’ot 4:1).

In a chapter on gut health and digestion, Weinberg explores, among other food-related topics, the link between moderation and digestive well-being, noting Rambam’s belief that a healthy digestive system is central to overall health. He advised eating in moderation and stopping before feeling completely full—roughly 75 percent satiety, what he called “pleasant satiety.”

Other chapters address mental health practices such as gratitude, meditation and connecting with nature as well as building sustainable health habits and cultivating faith and meaning.

By translating these centuries-old teachings into clear, practical guidance, The Lost Wisdom of Rambam invites readers to rediscover a timeless model of health—one that understands physical care and spiritual awareness as inseparable elements of a flourishing life.

Leah Finkelshteyn is senior and books editor at Hadassah Magazine.