HIST 2050 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Judah Halevi, Kuzari, Religious Zionism
Sam Gritz
10/16/17
Professor Schwartz
Hist of Jewish Civ.
Was Judah Halevi Racist?
Background: Judah Halevi was a Hebrew poet and Jewish Philosopher who born in Spain (possibly
Tudela), the border of cross and cresent, he wrote his Book of the Kuzari in around 1125. This book is
essentially a work of Jewish apologetics that defends Judaism against the challenges of Islam,
Christianity, Greek Philosophy, and the Karaites.
• Often the religious Zionist sector praises this book; the secular liberals consider it ethnocentric
and attribute it to the reason why Judah Halevi was Ultimately Racist.
• Although some religious individuals oppose the work as well and mention that is embraces a
type of Jewish superiority.
Main Thesis: Judah Halevi was in fact racist because he believed, with evidence from The Kuzari, that the
Jews were the sole and heart of mankind, and all other religions or non-Jews permit Judaism and the
Jewish People from being the dominate faith and people.
Halevi intended to uplift this Jewish ego in three ways- Emphasizing:
1. Jewish superiority
2. The idea that converts are not equal to naturally born Jews
3. Given historical context, Jews needed to reestablish themselves, and a labeling of Us Vs Them.
(Persecution, in 12th century- Suicide vs conversion)
4. Rebuttal: Jews Were Trying to get back to prestige as only monotheistic religion.
Racism- prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on
the belief that one's own race is superior
Jewish Superiority
According to Israeli Journalist Yuval Elbashin: Kuzari is divided into three parts or strata:
1. A bottom lethargic layer that encompasses nature
2. A middle animal layer that represents spirit and emotion
3. A top human layer of Rationality
Gentiles, or non-Jews exist in the Human stratum, but Jews are ultimately superior because they live in a
world Halevi calls the “Divine Matter” or “Divine order” (al-amr al-ilahi).
• Jews and Jews only can access this elevated level
o Just to point out: It does not say that Gentiles are not human beings but rather only
human beings, nothing more.
Furthermore: This higher level can also be interpreted as a Divine order that puts Jews on top of the
hierarchy.
Jews possess this gift of prophecy or pure soul and because they have achieved this high level or divinity,
there becomes no barrier distinguishing them from God, or being a part of God, and angels.
• Jews alone are Adams descendants and have access to God’s instructions, while non-Jews
cannot comprehend or exhibit this superior level of being.
