רבינו בחיי אבן פקודה

Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Pakuda (c. 4810/1050–4880/1120) was a dayan, poet and thinker who lived in Zaragoza in Muslim Spain during the golden age of Sefardic Jewry, and the author of Chovot HaLevavot, “Duties of the Heart.” He is one of two chachamim known as Rabbeinu Bachya; the other, who lived later, is Rav Bachya ben Asher, the commentator on the Torah — the two are often confused, but they are different men.

Little is recorded of his life beyond that he held the office of dayan on the beit din. His fame rests on Chovot HaLevavot, written around 4840/1080 in Arabic and rendered into Hebrew by Rav Yehudah ibn Tibbon in 4921/1161; a further Hebrew translation was made in our own time by Rav Yosef Kapach. It was the first ordered work of Jewish mussar. Rabbeinu Bachya saw that many gave their attention to the outward mitzvot — the “duties of the limbs” performed by the body — while neglecting the inner avodah, the “duties of the heart”: the beliefs, intentions and feelings that should fill a life of Torah.

Chovot HaLevavot became a beloved sefer among Jews the world over, and portions of it were once said as devotions in the days before Rosh Hashanah. He also composed piyutim of reproof and supplication, and a further work on the soul is ascribed to him. The Chovot HaLevavot is a very deep sefer and requires commentary to help explain some of the concepts that are presented. Many rabbis advise those without a strong philosophical background to skip Sha’ar HaYichud (The Gate of Unity) in Chovot HaLevavot. The Vilna Gaon said to learn Chovot HaLevavot but to replace the first chapter with the first section of the Kuzari instead.