Between Mysticism and Philosophy: Sufi Language of Religious Experience in Judah Ha-Levi's Kuzari

Judah Ha-Levi (1075-1141), a medieval Jewish poet, mystic, and sophisticated critic of the rationalistic tradition in Judaism, is the focus of this groundbreaking 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.

Diana Lobel is Anna Smith Fine Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies at Rice University.