Language:
English
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish Studies Quarterly
Angaben zur Quelle:
28,1 (2021) 1-20
Keywords:
Judah,
;
Jewish philosophy Middle Ages, 500-1500
;
Jewish ethics 12th century
Abstract:
The Kuzari is traditionally regarded as a work describing the process by which a pagan Khazar king faithfully converts to Judaism. This article offers a new interpretation, which views the King as a skeptical convert who represents an archetype of political leadership driven by the desire for power and not by knowledge or ethics. I contend that the argument put forward by the character of the Rabbi constitutes a kind of »four-step therapy« program, structured to educate the king about why he should be concerned with a just and ethical religion and not just a religion that wields power.
DOI:
10.1628/jsq-2021-0002
URL:
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