Kuzari

About the Kuzari on TorahSages

The Kuzari was written in Arabic by Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi (c. 1075–1141) of Spain, the paytan of Tziyon Halo Tishali, in defense of the emunah of Israel, and put into Hebrew by Rabbi Yehuda ibn Tibbon. It is built on the story of the king of the Kuzarim, who was told in a dream that his intention was pleasing but his deeds were not; he questioned a philosopher, a Christian and a Muslim, and then a chaver, a Jewish sage, and came to accept the Torah. In five maamarim the chaver answers him: Hashem is known through what He did before all of Israel — Yetziat Mitzrayim and Matan Torah, handed down from father to son — and not through proofs alone; Am Yisrael was chosen for nevuah; Eretz Yisrael and lashon hakodesh have their own place in this; and the mitzvot are the way to come close to Hashem. It is learned as a foundation of emunah.

TorahSages has the complete Kuzari in Hebrew, all five maamarim.