Nachmanides was and still is a highly respected scholar. Yet despite his brilliance he had ideas that many modern Jews are unable to accept. He was the first person who contended that the Bible, Targum Onkelos, and the other Aramaic translations of the Bible contained mystical teachings. In this volume, Dr. Drazin reveals some unusual and generally unknown facts about the revered sage and demonstrates that his mystical notions and his stands on issues such as medicine, magic, astrology, divination, life after death, the land of Israel, women, angels, hell, demons, and even God are not the normative views of most modern Jews. This fresh look at one of Judaism's most venerated sages asks and answers provocative questions on the nature of Nachmanides's work and its role in Jewish thought. I am always amazed at the range of different subjects that Dr. Drazin focuses on. This book is no different. Dr. Drazin writes about every aspect of the intellectually of the Nachmanides. I have just returned from Barcelona where my family and I took a tour of the ancient Jewish quarter. The most famous story is about the Disputation which took place in 1263 in Barcelona between the Ranban and Pablo Christianity an apostate Jew before King James 1. The king was so impressed with the Ranban that he gave him a 300 gold coins for his part of the debate. The Ranban then was advised to leave Spain and spent the rest of his life in Israel which was just as well as the persecution of the Jews continued unabated.He also established a shul in Jerusalem that stands to this day. The Nachmanides is often compared to the Rambam who was a scientific rational thinker while the Ranban was often called a great philosopher when in actual fact he was a Kabbalist. Nachmanides reputation rests on the fact that he was the most renown Sephardic Rabbi of his day as well as the leading medieval scholar, a renowned biblical commentator, Kabbalist,physicians and philosopher. We can call Nachmanides a mystical thinker and therefore he was the first person to introduce the idea that the Torah contains mystical notions. Nachmanides was also the first to state that the Aramaic translation of the Pentateuch , Targun Onkelos which contains mystical concepts Dr. Drazin does a superb job of taking the reader through every aspect of the Nachman writings and thinking. He gives his own forthright views which enriched the story of lifetime work of the Ranban --Hessel Meilech Nachmanides is a very important and much-needed addition to the existing scholarly literature on the life and work of Nachmanides who has remained little known up until now. Nachmanides is an authentic and comprehensive study of Nachmanides. With his unmatched scholarly credentials as a historian of Judaism and Jewish scholars, Israel Drazin sheds a light on largely ignored and unknown aspects of Nachmanides works. In this meticulously researched study, Drazin shows that his mystical thinking on important issues such as medicine, magic, astrology, the land of Israel, life after death, and even God is not accepted by most modern Jews. Nachmanides is a must-read for the students and experts of Judaism. Both scholars and lay people will equally benefit from this readable scholarly work. --The Washington Book Review, "Life and Work of a Medieval Jewish Mystic" (December 2018) Dr. Israel Drazin served for thirty-one years in the US military and attained the rank of brigadier general. He is an attorney and a rabbi, with master's degrees in both psychology and Hebrew literature and a PhD in Judaic studies. He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincy when its constitutionality was attacked in court, and he received the Legion of Merit for his service. Dr. Drazin is the author of more than thirty-five books.