I Was Asked to State What Arguments and Replies I Could Bring to Bear Against the Attacks

KUZARI-Judah Halevi d. 1141? The Cause and the caused are, as thou seest, http://www.tsel.org/torah/kuzari/eindex.html English and intimately connected with one another, their coherence Hebrew (no Arabic) on this site. Some editing by SW. being as eternal as the Prime Cause and having no beginning. Every individual on earth has his completing I was asked to state what arguments and replies I could causes; consequently an individual with perfect causes bring to bear against the attacks of philosophers and becomes perfect, and another with imperfect causes followers of other religions, and also against [Jewish] remains imperfect, as the negro who is able to receive sectarians who attacked the rest of Israel. This nothing more than the human shape and speech in its reminded me of something I had once heard concerning least developed form. The philosopher, however, who is the arguments of a Rabbi who sojourned with the King equipped with the highest capacity, receives through it of the Khazars. The latter, as we know from historical the advantages of disposition, intelligence and active records, became a convert to Judaism about four power, so that he wants nothing to make him perfect. hundred years ago. To him came a dream, and it Now these perfections exist but in abstraction, and appeared as if an angel addressed him, saying: ' Thy require instruction and training to become practical, and way of thinking is indeed pleasing to the Creator, but not in order that this capacity, with all its completeness or thy way of acting.' Yet he was so zealous in the deficiencies and endless grades, may become visible. In performance of the Khazar religion, that he devoted the perfect person a light of divine nature, called Active himself with a perfect heart to the service of the temple Intellect, is with him, and its Passive intellect is so and sacrifices. Notwithstanding this devotion, the angel closely connected therewith that both are but one. The came again at night and repeated: 'Thy way of thinking person [of such perfection] thus observes that he is the is pleasing to God, but not thy way of acting.' This Active Intellect himself, and that there is no difference caused him to ponder over the different beliefs and between them. His organs -- I mean the limbs of such a religions, and finally become a convert to Judaism person -- only serve for the most perfect purposes, in together with many other Khazars. As I found among the most appropriate time, and in the best condition, as the arguments of the Rabbi, many which appealed to if they were the organs of the Active Intellect, but not of me, and were in harmony with my own opinions, I the material and passive Intellect, which used them at resolved to write them down exactly as they had been an earlier period, sometimes well, but more often spoken. improperly. The Active Intellect, however, is always successful. This degree is the last and most longed for [Philosopher] When the King of Khazar (as is related) goal for the perfect man whose soul, after having been dreamt that his way of thinking was agreeable to God, purified, has grasped the inward truths of all branches of but not his way of acting, and was commanded in the science, has thus become equal to an angel, and has same dream to seek the God-pleasing work, he inquired found a place on the nethermost step of seraphic of a philosopher concerning his religious persuasion. beings. This is the degree of the Active Intellect, viz. that The philosopher replied: There is no favour or dislike in angel whose degree is below the angel who is [the nature of] God because He is above desire and connected with the sphere of the moon. There are intention. A desire intimates a want in the person who spiritual forces, detached from matter, but eternal like feels it, and not till it is satisfied does he become (so to the Prime Cause and never threatened by decay. Thus speak) complete. If it remains unfulfilled, he lacks the soul of the perfect man and that Intellect become completion. In a similar way He is, in the opinion of One, without concern for the decay of his body or his philosophers, above the knowledge of individuals, organs, because he becomes united to the other. His because the latter change with the times, whilst there is soul is cheerful while he is alive, because it enjoys the no change in God's knowledge. He, therefore, does not company of Hermes, Asclepios, Socrates, Plato and know thee, much less thy thoughts and actions, nor Aristotle; nay, he and they, as well as everyone who does He listen to thy prayers, or see thy movements. If shares their degree, and the Active Intellect, are one philosophers say that He created thee, they only use a thing. This is what is called allusively and approximately metaphor, because He is the Cause of causes in the Pleasure of God. Endeavour to reach it, and the true creation of all creatures put not because this was His knowledge of things, in order that thy intellect may intention from the beginning. He never created man. For become active, but not passive. Keep just ways as the world is without beginning, and there never arose a regards character and actions, because this will help man otherwise than through one who came into thee to effect truth, to gain instruction, and to become existence before him, in whom were united forms, gifts, similar to this Active Intellect. The consequence of this and characteristics inherited from father, mother, and will be contentment, humility, meekness, and every other relations, besides the influences of climate, other praiseworthy inclination, accompanied by the countries, foods and water, spheres, stars and veneration of the Prime Cause, not in order to receive constellations. Everything is reduced to a Prime Cause; favour from it, or to divert its wrath, but solely to become not to a Will proceeding from this, but an Emanation like the Active Intellect in finding the truth, in describing from which emanated a second, a third, and fourth everything in a fitting manner, and in rightly recognizing cause. its basis. These are the characteristics of the [Active] Intellect. If thou hast reached such disposition of belief, be not concerned about the forms of thy humility or regards the Jews, I am satisfied that they are of low religion or worship, or the word or language or actions station, few in number, and generally despised. thou employest. Thou mayest even choose a religion in the way of humility, worship, and benediction, for the He then invited a Christian scholastic, and put questions management of thy temperament, thy house and [the to him concerning the theory and practice of his faith. people of thy] country, if they agree to it. Or fashion thy religion according to the laws of reason set up by The Scholastic replied: I believe that all things are philosophers, and strive after purity of soul. In fine, seek created, whilst the Creator is eternal; that He created purity of heart in which way thou are able, provided thou the whole world in six days; that all mankind sprang hast acquired the sum total of knowledge in its real from Adam, and after him from Noah, to whom they essence; then thou wilt reach thy goal, viz. the union trace themselves back; that God takes care of the with this Spiritual, or rather Active Intellect. Maybe he created beings, and keeps in touch with man; that He will communicate with thee or teach thee the knowledge allows wrath, pleasure, and compassion; that He of what is hidden through true dreams and positive speaks, appears, and reveals Himself to his prophets visions. and favoured ones; that He dwells among those who please him In short [I believe] in all that is written in the 2. Said to him the Khazari: Thy words are convincing, Torah and the records of the Children of Israel, which yet they do not correspond to what I wish to find. I know are undisputed, because they are generally known as already that my soul is pure and that my actions are lasting, and have been revealed before a vase calculated to gaiI1 the favour of God. To all this I multitude. Subsequently the divine essence became received the answer that this way of action does not find embodied in an embryo in the womb of a virgin taken favour, though the intention does. There must no doubt from the noblest ranks of Israelitish women. She bore be a way of acting, pleasing by its very nature, but not Him with the semblance of a human being, but covering through the medium of intentions. If this be not so, why a divinity, seemingly a prophet, but in reality a God sent then do Christian and Moslem, who divide the inhabited forth. He is the Messiah, whom we call the Son of God, world between them, fight with one another, each of and He is the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. them serving his God with pure intention, living as either We condense His nature into one thing, although the monks or hermits, fasting and praying? For all that they Trinity appears on our tongues. We believe in Him and vie with each other in committing murders, believing that in His abode among the Children of Israel, granted to this is a most pious work and brings them nearer to them as a distinction, because the divine influence God. They fight in the belief that paradise and eternal never ceased to be attached to them, until the masses bliss will be their reward. It is, however, impossible to rebelled against this Messiah, and they crucified Him. agree with both. Then divine wrath burdened them everlastingly, whilst the favour was confined to a few who followed the 3. The Philosopher replied: The philosophers' creed Messiah, and to those nations which followed these few. knows no manslaughter, as they only cultivate the We belong to their number. Although we are not of intellect. Israelitish descent, we are well deserving of being called Children of Israel, because we follow the messiah and 4. Al Khazari: What could be more erroneous, in the His twelve Israelitish companions who took the place of opinion of the philosophers, than the belief that the the tribes, many Israelites followed these twelve world was created in six days, or that the Prime Cause [apostles], and became the leaven, as it were, for the spoke with mortals, not to mention the philosophic Christians. We are worthy of the degree of the Children doctrine, which declares the former to be above of Israel. To us was also granted victory, and expansion knowing details. In addition to this one might expect the over the countries. All nations are invited to this religion, gift of prophecy quite common among philosophers, and charged to practise it, to adore the Messiah and the considering their deeds, their knowledge, their cross on which He was put, and the like. Our laws and researches after truth, their exertions, and their close regulations are derived from the Apostle Simon, and connexion with all things spiritual, also that Renders, from ordinations taken from the Tora, which we study. miracles, and extraordinary things would be reported of Its truth is indisputable, as is also the fact that it came them. fret me find that true visions are granted to from God. It is also stated in the New Testament: I came persons who do not devote themselves to study or to not to destroy one of the laws of Moses, but I came to the purification of their souls, whereas the opposite is confirm and enlarge it. the case with those who strive after these things. This proves that the divine influence as well as the souls 5. Then said the Khazari: I see here no logical have a secret which is not identical with what thou conclusion; nay, logic rejects most of what thou sayest. sayest, O Philosopher. If both appearance and experience are so palpable that they take hold of the whole heart, compelling belief in a [Christian] After this the Khazari said to himself: I will thing of which one is not convinced they render the ask the Christians and Moslems, since one of these matter more feasible by a semblance of logic. This is persuasions is, no doubt, the God-pleasing one. As how natural philosophers deal with strange phenomena which come upon them unawares, and which they would not believe if they only heard of them without 9. The Doctor: Is not our Book full of the stories of seeing them. When they have examined them, they Moses and the Children of Israel? No one can deny discuss them, and ascribe them to the influence of stars what He did to Pharaoh, how He divided the sea, saved or spirits without disproving ocular evidence. As for me, those who enjoyed His favour, but drowned those who I cannot accept these things, because they come upon had aroused His wrath. Then came the manna and the me suddenly, not having grown up in them. My duty is quails during forty years, His speaking to Moses on the to investigate further. mount, making the sun stand still for Joshua, and assisting him against the mighty. [Add to this] what [Islam] He then invited one of the Doctors of Islam, and happened previously, viz. the Flood, the destruction of questioned him regarding his doctrine and observance. the people of Lot; is this not so well known that no suspicion of deceit and imagination is possible? The Doctor said: We acknowledge the unity and eternity of God, and that all men are derived from Adam-Noah. 10. Al Khazari: Indeed, I see myself compelled to ask We absolutely reject embodiment, and if any element of the Jews, because they are the relic of the Children of this appears in the Writ, we explain it as a metaphor and Israel. For I see that they constitute in themselves the allegory. At the same time we maintain that our Book is evidence for the divine law on earth. the Speech of God, being a miracle which we are bound to accept for its own sake, since no one is able to bring [Judaism] He then invited a Jewish Rabbi, and asked anything similar to it, or to one of its verses. Our prophet him about his belief. is the Seal of the prophets, who abrogated every previous law, and invited all nations to embrace Islam. 11. The Rabbi replied: I believe in the God of Abraham, The reward of the pious consists in the return of his Isaac and Israel, who led the children of Israel out of spirit to his body in paradise and bliss, where he never Egypt with signs and miracles; who fed them in the ceases to enjoy eating, drinking, women's love, and desert and gave them the land, after having made them anything he may desire. The requital of the disobedient traverse the sea and the Jordan in a miraculous way; consists in being condemned to the fire of hell, and his who sent Moses with His law, and subsequently punishment knows no end. thousands of prophets, who confirmed His law by promises to the observant. and threats to the 6. Said to him the Khazari: If any one is to be guided in disobedient. Our belief is comprised in the Torah -- a matters divine, and to be convinced that God speaks to very large domain. man, whilst he considers it improbable, he must be convinced of it by means of generally known facts, 12. I had not intended to ask any Jew, because I am Which allow no refutation, and particularly imbue him aware of their reduced condition and narrow-minded with the belief that God has spoken to man. Although views, as their misery left them nothing commendable. your book may be a miracle, as long as it is written in Now shouldst thou, O Jew, not have said that thou Arabic, a non-Arab as I am, cannot perceive its believest in the Creator of the world, its Governor and miraculous character; and even if it were read to me, I Guide, and in Him who created and keeps thee, and could not distinguish between it and any other book such attributes which serve as evidence for every written in the Arabic language. believer, and for the sake of which Re pursues justice in order to resemble the Creator in His wisdom and 7. The Doctor replied: Yet miracles were performed by justice? him, but they were not used as evidence for the acceptance of his law. 13. The Rabbi: That which thou dost express is religion based on speculation and system, the research of 8. Al Khazari: Exactly so; but the human mind cannot thought, but open to many doubts. Now ask the believe that God has intercourse with man, except by a philosophers, and thou wilt find that they do not agree miracle which changes the nature of things. We then on one action or one principle, since some doctrines can recognizes that to do so He alone is capable who be established by arguments, which are only partially created them from nought. It must also have taken place satisfactory, and still much less capable of being in the presence of great multitudes, who saw it distinctly, proved. and did not learn it from reports and traditions. Even then they must examine the matter carefully and 14. Al Khazari: That which thou sayest now, O Jew, repeatedly, so that no suspicion of imagination or magic seems to be more to the point than the beginning, and I can enter their minds. Then it is possible that the mind should like to hear more. map grasp this extraordinary matter, viz. that the Creator of this world and the next, of the heavens and 15. The Rabbi: Surely the beginning of my speech was lights, should hold intercourse with this contemptible just the proof, and so evident that it requires no other piece of clay, I mean man, speak to him, and fulfil his argument. wishes and desires. [Islam] The First Chapter of the Qur'an: [Christianity] Matthew 6 In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate! 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds. The All which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10. Merciful, the Compassionate, Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee only do we is in heaven. 11. Give us this day our daily bread. serve, to Thee alone do we pray for help. Guide us on 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our the Straight Path. The Path of those whom Thou has graced; Not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, debtors. 13. And lead us not into temptation, but nor of those who are astray. deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. “HADITH OF GABRIEL” Al-Bukhari, Sahih. The Book of Faith (Kitab Al-Iman) International Consultation on English Texts Chapter 1: Book 001, Number 0001: translation Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in the as printed in: company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there The Lutheran Book of Worship appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his The Book of Common Prayer (Episcopal) English hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on Language Liturgical Commission translation him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the We believe in one God, Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his the Father, the Almighty, palms on his thighs and said: maker of heaven and earth, Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam (submission to God). of all that is, seen and unseen. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform the only Son of God, pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear eternally begotten of the Father, the expense of) the journey. God from God, Light from Light, He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. true God from true God, He (Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: It amazed us that he would begotten, not made, put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. of one Being with the Father. He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith). Through him all things were made. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the For us and for our salvation Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine he came down from heaven: Decree about good and evil. by the power of the Holy Spirit He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-Ihsan and was made man. (performance of good deeds). For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees he suffered death and was buried. you. On the third day he rose again He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour in accordance with the Scriptures; (of the Doom). he ascended into heaven He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it). and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications. He will come again in glory to judge the living and He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give the dead, birth to her mistress and master, that you will find and his kingdom will have no end. barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of He (the narrator, Umar ibn al-Khattab) said: Then he (the life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Apostle knows best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Gabriel We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the of religion. forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. [Judaism] Deut 6:4. Hear, O Israel: The LORD of days our Anointed await the time of our our God is one LORD: 5. And thou shalt love the King salvation LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy God will resurrect the Blessed forever is the soul, and with all thy might. 6. And these words, dead in His great praise of His Name which I command thee this day, shall be in thine lovingkindness heart: 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou c. Ani Ma’amin risest up. 8. And thou shalt bind them for a sign http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/judaism/beli efs.html upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9. And thou shalt write them 1. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Name, is the Creator and Guide of everything that has been created; He alone has made, does make, and will make all 13 principles of Maimonides things. a. For a full translation of the original text, see: 2. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is One, and that there is no unity in any manner like http://members.aol.com/lazera/13yesodos.html. unto His, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and b. The hymn Yigdal paraphrased from the Rambam will be. (Maimonides) translated by Jonathan Baker http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker/Yigdal.html 3. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, and that He is free from all the May the Living God be Who exists, and whose properties of matter, and that He has not any form whatever. magified and praised existence is not limited by time 4. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His One, and there is no Concealed, nor is there Name, is the first and the last. unity like His Unity an end to His Unity. 5. I believe with perfect faith that to the Creator, blessed be He has no form of a It is not arranged around His Name, and to Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is body, nor is He a body His holiness. not right to pray to any being besides Him. Preceding every created First, and there is nothing thing, prior to His Priority 6. I believe with perfect faith that all the works of the As Master of the prophets are true. He teaches His Greatness Universe to every and Sovereignty formed being 7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses, our The flow of His prophecy To men of His special, teacher, peace be unto him, was true, and that he was the chief is His gift glorious nation. of the prophets, both of those who preceded and of those who followed him. There has not risen A prophet and one who another in Israel like tells clearly his visions 8. I believe with perfect faith that the whole Torah, now in Moses our possession, is the same that was given to Moses, our A Torah of truth did the By the hand of His teacher, peace be unto him. Almighty give to His prophet [Moses], faithful nation to His house. 9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be God will not exchange changed, and that there will never be any other Law from the forever. Not even He. nor retract His religion Creator, blessed be His name. forecasting He observes and knows consequences from their 10. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His our secrets antecedents. name, knows very deed of the children of men, and all their thoughts, as it is said. It is He that fashioned the hearts of He grants Man Gives evil to the wicked them all, that gives heed to all their works. lovingkindness as they engage in according to his deeds wickedness He will send at the end To redeem those who 11. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them.

12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; and, though he tarry, I will wait daily for his coming.

13. I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His name, and exalted be His Fame for ever and ever.