Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi

While his works betray some Platonic influence, the overall views of Yehudah HaLevi do not belong to any particular philosophical school. In his fact, HaLevi's major philosophical work, The Book of Argument and Proof in Defense of the Despised Faith, popularly known as the Kuzari, includes a serious critique of philosophical speculation. In contrast, the works of Maimonides reflect a deep commitment to Aristotelian philosophy though also influenced by Platonic thought in certain areas. His principal work, the Guide to the Perplexed is written with the goal of reconciling Jewish faith and the challenges to it by someone well versed in the philosophical tradition. Consequently, HaLevi and Maimonides hold different attitudes towards philosophy and these differences are found throughout their works including the nature of prophecy.

HaLevi's work the Kuzari, while written as an apologetic for Judaism against Christianity and Islam, also includes a reflection of his attitude towards philosophy. For HaLevi, the philosopher is concerned primarily with the theoretical knowledge of God rather the experiential knowledge of God. His critique does not end there, as HaLevi denies the possibility of philosophy in achieving certainty in the metaphysical arena. As Julius Guttman notes, for HaLevi, a principle critique is that they possess only pseudo-knowledge.

In contrast to the general views of medieval philosophy that prophecy was a universally accessible experience, HaLevi believed that Israel alone among the nations possessed the gift of prophecy.

For HaLevi, immediate religious experience it superior to deductive reasoning found in philosophy. For HaLevi the prophet is one who by an inner sense is able to comprehend spiritual reality. The prophet experiences directly the presence of God.

The prophet does not teach men eternal truths, but rather the path of observance that leads men to God's presence. Unlike most Jewish philosophers of the medieval period and certainly Maimonides, HaLevi is not concerned with any inconsistencies between Jewish tradition and philosophical tradition or reconciling them. HaLevi does not reproach philosophical inquiry or speculation because he does not credit them with either scientific or religious discovery, as Isaak Heinemann notes in his review of HaLevi's approach to philosophy.

For HaLevi, the prophet's role and in fact the distinction of Israel is based upon the historical revelation at Sinai and in the sign and miracles that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel performed for their children in Egypt. The source of religious truth is biblical revelation whose veracity is based upon the public nature of the revelation evident in the history of the Jewish people.


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Jacob Lumbroso is a world traveler and an enthusiast for foreign languages, history, and foreign cultures. He writes articles on history and languages has used cheap Pimsleur courses to learn various languages.