Translated from the German with an introduction. This is the first volume of the Jewish Bookshelf, a collection of the best Jewish books written from the time of the completion of the Talmud to the present day. Maimonides (the Rambam) was the intellect of the 12th century. He was not a solider, cared nothing about the crusades or war, but was interested in almost everything else. He was the rabbi, judge, leader, philosopher and teacher of his nation. He was equally proficient as a metaphysician and physician. This book is an attempt to add the quietly colorful page of his life to the chapter of the Crusades.