Bach Y A ben-Joseph ibn-Paquda

(11th century)

   Spanish philosopher. Nothing of Bachya’s life is known except that he lived in Moslem Spain, perhaps in Saragossa, and that he held the office of dayan (judge) in the Jewish community. His major work, ‘The Duties of the Hearts’, written in Arabic around 1080, was destined to achieve lasting popularity. While he firmly upheld the halachah (Jewish law), his interpretation was influenced by Moslem mystics and by neo-Platonic ideas.

   The book’s simple language and call to the individual made a direct appeal to the Jewish masses. In the course of time it was translated into a number of languages.