Between Mysticism and Philosophy: Sufi Language of Religious Experience in Judah Ha-Levi's KuzariJudah Ha-Levi (1075 1141), a medieval Jewish poet, mystic, and sophisticated critic of the rationalistic tradition in Judaism, is the focus of this ground-breaking study. Diana Lobel examines his influential philosophical dialogue, Sefer ha-Kuzari, written in Arabic and later translated into Hebrew, which broke religious and philosophical convention by infusing Sufi terms for religious experience with a new Jewish theological vision. Intellectually engaging, clear, and accessible, Between Mysticism and Philosophy is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the intertwined worlds of Jewish and Islamic philosophy, religion, and culture. |
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Abraham Active Intellect al-Fārābī al-Ghazzālī amr ilāhī angels Arabic argues argument ascetic asceticism Avicenna Baḥya Baneth Ben-Shammai Biblical Christian cling commandments connection context contrast critique describe direct divine Efros faculty faith Ghazzālī God's Ha-Levi Ḥaver Ḥaver asserts heart Hebrew Holy Spirit human ibid Ibn Tufayl idem ijtihad Ikhwan ilham individual inner eye interpretation Islamic Israel ittiṣāl Jerusalem Jewish Jews Judaeo-Arabic Judah Halevi Judaism kalām Karaites King Kitāb knowledge Kuzari language logic Lord Maimonides medieval Merkavah mitsvot Moses Mount Sinai Munqidh Muslim mystical nation nature Neo-Platonic nubuwwa passage path person Philo pious proof prophecy prophetic vision prophets witness Qafih qiyās Qur'an rabbis religious experience revelation waḥy ruaḥ Sages Sefer sense Shekhinah Shi'ite Silman soul spiritual Studies Sufi Sufis and philosophers Sufism suggests ta'yīd taqlid term ittiṣāl thinkers thought tion Torah tradition translation truth union witness mushāhada Wolfson words yatta şilu Yehudah Yehudah Halevi