Sepher HaKuzari [philosophy].

AUCTION 54 | Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 at 1:00

Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts Autograph Letters, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 145

HALEVI, JUDAH.

Sepher HaKuzari [philosophy].

Translated from Arabic to Hebrew by Judah ibn Tibbon. With commentary “Kol Yehudah” by Judah Moscato. Third edition, <<FIRST EDITION>> with commentary. ff. 299. Slight worming on title and first few leaves, previous owers’ signatures and inscriptions on title and flyleaves including N. Ettlinger of Mainz. Later vellum, spine slightly chipped. 4to. Vinograd, Venice 794; Habermann, di Gara 144].

Venice: Giovanni di Gara 1594

Est: $600 - $900

PRICE REALIZED $600

The Kuzari is written in the form of a Socratic dialogue. Halevi develops a philosophy of history in an attempt to show the insufficiency of theological conclusions arrived at by rationalistic means. His underlying principle is that God cannot be found or conceived by reason, but rather by an intuition specific to Jews. It is this Divine intuition which may bring one to the highest spiritual level: prophecy. The work has a polemical and apologetic dimension as well, discussing the perceived inadequacies of Christian and Islamic theology, and the superiority of Judaism. See M. Waxman, vol. I, pp. 333-39.