Book of the Khazar

work by Judah ha-Levi

Also known as: “Kuzari”, “Sefer ha-Kuzari”, “al-Hazari”

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June 22, 2026

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The Book of the Khazar (Sefer ha-Kuzari) is a philosophical work by Judah ha-Levi, written in Arabic around 1140 and later translated into Hebrew. It is presented as a dialogue between a Khazar king and a Jewish scholar. The narrative is based on the historical conversion of the Khazars, a Turkic people, to Judaism.

The book explores the nature of religion and God's relationship with humanity. Ha-Levi contrasts the philosophical concept of God with the God of the Jewish tradition, emphasizing divine revelation and the importance of Jewish history. He argues that true knowledge of God comes from contemplating Jewish history rather than abstract philosophical reasoning. The work also defends traditional Judaism against other viewpoints, including those of the Karaites.12

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Judah ha-Levi
…Zion, and the Sefer ha-Kuzari (“Book of the Khazar”), presenting his philosophy of Judaism in dialogue form.
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…Zion, and the Sefer ha-Kuzari (“Book of the Khazar”), presenting his philosophy of Judaism in dialogue form.
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Judaism
Judah ha-Levi
…an Arabic dialogue, al-Hazari (Hebrew Sefer ha-Kuzari), the full title of which is translated as “The Book of Proof and Argument in Defense of the Despised Faith.” This work is usually called Kuzari—i.e., “the Khazar.”
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…an Arabic dialogue, al-Hazari (Hebrew Sefer ha-Kuzari), the full title of which is translated as “The Book of Proof and Argument in Defense of the Despised Faith.” This work is usually called Kuzari—i.e., “the Khazar.”
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Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon
Sefer ha-Kuzari (“Book of the Khazar”) by the Spanish Hebrew poet Judah ha-Levi (c. 1085–c. 1141), which recounts in dialogue form the arguments presented before the king of the Khazars by a rabbi, a Christian, a Muslim scholar, and an Aristotelian philosopher, with the subsequent conversion…
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Sefer ha-Kuzari (“Book of the Khazar”) by the Spanish Hebrew poet Judah ha-Levi (c. 1085–c. 1141), which recounts in dialogue form the arguments presented before the king of the Khazars by a rabbi, a Christian, a Muslim scholar, and an Aristotelian philosopher, with the subsequent conversion…
Read More