Conduct of Life

The major work of Rabbi Moses Almosnino (1515-1580), Conduct of Life, remains to this day an essential reference in classical Judeo-Spanish literature, now finally available in English in its first translation. First published in Ladino in 1564 as "Sefer Hanhagat ha-chayim," and in 1729 as "Regimiento de la vida," this three-volume edition is part of the prestigious collection Veritas è terra orietur. The introduction by Jean-Pierre Rothschild, Director of Research at CNRS and Director of Studies at EPHE, specializing in mediaeval philosophy, enlightens the reader on the foundations and stakes of the work.

The first volume aims to provide practical advice for leading a good life from an early age. It emphasizes the distinction between spiritual, physical, and external goods (I, ch. 1-3), including suggestions on dietary habits, sleep and waking, going to bed and getting up, walking and sitting, speaking and silence (I, ch. 4-10), the four types of discourse (I, ch. 11), and why the righteous die young (I, ch. 11). Finally, it addresses questions on eschatology, classical philosophy, and theodicy (I, ch. 12-14).

Conduct of Life draws heavily from the Nicomachean Ethics but transcends this source by situating itself at the universal intersection of several traditions: Greco-Arabic philosophy, Judeo-Christian scholasticism, classical Sephardic Judaism, and mediaeval Jewish thought. Thus, this work contributes to peace and intercultural understanding among peoples.

R. Moses Ben Barukh Almosnino (c. 1515-1580) was a major figure in Classical Judaism. He settled in the Ottoman Empire, and possessed extensive knowledge of both Jewish and secular subjects and was known for his Responsa and exegeses. He also took an interest in various scientific fields, translating and commenting on works by Aristotle and other scholars. R. Moses Almosnino wrote on topics such as ethics, including commentaries on the Nicomachean Ethics and Pirkei Avot. He also authored “Extremos y grandezas de Constantinopla,” a historical work in Judeo-Spanish. His original work “Regimiento de la vida,” (Conduct of Life) a treatise on ethics, was published during his lifetime in 1564 and remains a reference in classical Judeo-Spanish literature.