Outline
Yehudah Halevi and the Kuzari, Part 3 (1961)
Synopsis: 11th century poet, rabbi, physician, philosopher, rejects rationalism… but not reason, differences between G-d of philosophers and G-d of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, these are negative: what did he himself believe? Mentioned: "Ayin nisteret", intuition… Today: major part his outlook. (2) Historiosophy: YHL emphasizes experience as main source of knowledge, more than reason (thus: poetry influenced form Kuzari; medicine his emphasis on experience); with YHL, history a major category of significance... collective experience of Israel, its history, major events in this collective experience are Exodus & Revelation, especially latter. – Unlike other medieval philosophers, not begin with general principles and proceed to particular, but begins with particular experience as a fact, proceeds to general principles. – Thus, Rabbi to King very beginning (as last week): G-d took us out of Egypt... — Revelation: emphasize that it was a fact, witnessed by large numbers of people, transmitted generation to generation... (historical memory)Aux. text: summarize last paragraph p.6, read first half p.7– Crucial significance of Revelation ("Torah min hashamayim") to Judaism;With it distinguish between Orthodoxy, non-Jewish brands of faithThe People of Israel % YHL speaks of holy people, holy land, holy deeds \[Read] Aux. text p.7, section III (first 5 stanzas only) % To YHL, just as religion is more than philosophy, so is Judaism more than religion – Living subject of Judaism is: the Jewish people (unique in this respect). Heart of world = Israel: special quality giving it *Inyan Eloki* (special relationship with G-d, His revelation to man, & man's readiness to receive this revelation). A people caught up with G-d... % All other nations under natural-historical law, Israel: special divine providenceNorman Lamm – 2 – Third Lecture% Israel as heart of world is part of it, but yet different: *segulah* –biologically and historically equipped fo…
