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The Kuzari, one of
the most beloved Jewish philosophical works becomes more accessible to
English readers than ever before. Written by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi over
a period of twenty years and completed in 1140, The Kuzari has
enthralled generations of Jews and non-Jews alike with its clear-cut
presentation on Judaism, and its polemics against Greek philosophy,
Christianity, Islam, and Karaitism. Part historical novel, The Kuzari
records a dialogue between Bulan, the eighth-century King of the
Khazars (a powerful people occupying the region which is now southeast
Russia between the Black and Caspian Seas), and a rabbi. The story is
told that a righteous king was plagued by a recurring dream in which
an angel told him "Your intentions are desirable to the Creator, but
not your deeds." This prompted him to summon a Greek philosopher, a
Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew to his palace to guide him on the
proper religious path. He was dissatisfied with each theologian until
he heard what the rabbi had to say, and finally conceded that Judaism
was the one true and correct religion. History records that Bulan and
his entire kingdom then converted to Judaism. Never before in Jewish
history had an entire nation of non-Jews embraced Judaism. The Kuzari
describes the theological struggles of King Bulan and the convincing
arguments of the rabbi which led to the mass conversion. Using this
premise and the dialogue format as his vehicle, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi
succeeds in presenting, in a passionate and convincing fashion, some
of the most important fundamentals of Judaism, including the different
levels of creation, how God interacts with the physical world, and the
sanctity of the Sabbath and other holy days. Only two other English
translations of The Kuzari were ever published. One originally
produced in 1905, is written in archaic style, and the other compiles
the information in The Kuzari by topic, but does not convey the
original excitement of the question-and-answer dialogue between the
rabbi and the king. With an introduction that includes a brief history
of the Khazars and the biographical information on the author, this
new volume fills a gap in Jewish literature. As modern readers are
drawn onto the centuries-old debate, they will join the Khazar king in
discovering the beauty, truth, and wisdom.
by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi |
