The Kuzari: In Defense of the Despised Faith (English and Hebrew Edition)

More than ever, there is an urgent need to rediscover the timeless relevance of traditional wisdom to understand the issues of our day and age, and on that journey one must encounter the age-old philosophy of Judaism. In the 12th century, Yehuda HaLevi authored a classic of world literature when he developed a vibrant dialogue between a Jewish scholar and a ruler from the kingdom of Khazar. The book, published in Arabic, was called The Kuzari, and it addresses a series of theological, philosophical, and ideological concerns posed by the Khazar king.Among the topics discussed: comparing the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths, the history of the world, origins of the Jewish nation; how God interacts with the physical world, Israel and the nations, the concept of Sabbath, the World to Come, faith, prophecy, astrology, proofs for the existence of a soul, the human intellect, free will, and more. This current edition of The Kuzari offers an accurate, easy-to-read translation of the text along with incisive commentary, an extensive biography of Yehuda HaLevi, and a history of the original Khazar kingdom.The result is a richly-rewarding learning opportunity one that provides a compelling look at timely answers to timeless questions as they relate to the human condition in a modern world. Read more