From the thirteenth century the spiritual life of the Jews declined. Talmudic literature, ritualism and Kabbala were almost exclusively cultivated. Poetry, exegesis, philosophy and scientific literature were constantly declining. The most prominent representative of Maimonides’ tradition is David Kimhi of Narbonne, 1170-1230. He wrote a Hebrew Grammar, ‏‎מכלול‎‏, and commentaries to most of the Biblical books. He also took an active part in the defense of Maimonides’ works when the orthodox of Spain and France, influenced by the zeal of the Dominican Friars in their attack on the Albigenses and the scholastic philosophy, wished to commit the “Moreh” to the flames. Besides Kimhi two members of his family are noted for grammatical and exegetical works. These are his father Joseph and his brother Moses. To Southern France belongs also the family of Ibn Tibbon, four generations of which were prominent translators of philosophical, Rabbinic and scientific books from Arabic into Hebrew. Judah the Elder (1100-1150) translated Bahya’s “Duties of the Heart,” Saadya’s “Dogma and Science,” and Judah Halevi’s “Kuzari.” His son Solomon translated Maimonides’ “Moreh” and the commentary on the Mishna. But the orthodox party prevailed in their opposition to Maimonides, and in 1233 the “Moreh” was publicly burned at Paris. The Dominicans, who had been appealed to, extended their inquisitory activities, and on the testimony of Nicholas Donin, a converted Jew, charged the Talmud with hostility to the Christians. All copies of the book that could be found were burned at Paris in 1244. In spite of these attacks philosophical studies did not die out completely. In the fourteenth century Levi ben Gershom (1288-1344) flourished in Southern France. His philosophical work, “The Wars of the Lord,” is an attempt to reconcile Judaism with Platonic philosophy. He also invented an astronomic instrument in which the great astronomer Kepler was much interested. To the fourteenth century belongs Hasdai Crescas, whose commentary to Maimonides’ “Moreh” and philosophical treatise, “The Light of the Lord,” have great scientific value. Of little independent value is the work “Ikkarim” (Fundamental Principles), by Joseph Albo (1380-1440). He is an imitator of Maimonides; but, instead of thirteen fundamental articles of faith, he recognized only three—God, revelation and the future life. To the school of the preachers belongs Isaac Arama, whose work, “Akedat Yizhak,” is a philosophical interpretation of the Midrash, and follows the weekly portions of the Haggadic writers.