Bachaya Ibn Pakuda Rabbi Saadyah wrote the first Jewish work of
philosophy in 933. Rabbi Bachaya wrote the first work of Jewish
ethics more than a century later. Rabbi Saadya flourished during
the twilight of once glorious Babylonian Jewry; Sephardic Jewry
continued its magnificent history in Spain, reflecting the shift
from Asia to Europe, where R. Bachaya lived and created his
magnum opus, Duties of the Heart (Chovot HaLevovot). Rabbi
Bachaya lived in Muslim Spain, probably in Saragossa, and served
as a judge, but little else is known about his life. He was
thoroughly conversant with the entire Biblical and Talmudical
literature and was also master of all the knowledge and science
of his day. Though a philosopher in his own right, Rabbi
Bachayas essential contribution is that of creator of a new
genre in Jewish literature, Jewish ethics. The first chapter of
his work which is devoted to the unity of G-d employs
philosophical arguments which some felt were not readily
understandable and was skipped over by m