The Kuzari
- 310 pages
- 11 hours of reading
"We can still learn much from Judah Halevi ... his serene allegiance to history and the long-range forces of destiny high above the immediate brute realities and implacable forces of nature."--Salo Baron. "In defending Judaism ... against the philosophers, he was conscious of defending morality itself and therewith the cause, not only of Judaism, but of mankind at large."--Leo Strauss. This classic work of Jewish philosophy, written in 1140 by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi, aims to defend Judaism against philosophical, Christian, and Muslim critiques, as well as challenges from Karaites. Composed of five sections, it presents a dialogue between the pagan king of the Khazars and a Jewish scholar invited to explain Jewish beliefs. The narrative is inspired by the historical conversion of the Khazar elite to Judaism in the 8th century. This edition is based on the 1905 translation by Prof. Hirschfeld from the original Arabic, enhanced for modern readers. Archaic language has been updated, long paragraphs restructured, and the table of contents expanded and fully linked. It also includes Prof. Hirschfeld's comprehensive introduction, a biography of Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi, and a summary of the central arguments, making it accessible and informative for contemporary audiences.
