The Kuzari and the Problem with Philosophy

This episode is a recording of Part 2 in Rabbi Claman's "Great Jewish Books & Thinkers" series. Rav Yehuda HaLevi was one of the greatest poets of the Jewish people — and one of its most daring thinkers. In this episode, we journey through his life, from the golden age of Spain to his fateful pilgrimage toward Jerusalem, exploring the personal longing that pulses through both his poetry and his philosophy. Through The Kuzari, HaLevi challenges the idea that truth can be found through reason alone, arguing instead for a Judaism rooted in lived experience, national destiny, and divine encounter. Why did he reject the philosophical trends of his time? What did he believe the soul was truly searching for? And how did his poems give voice to a yearning that still echoes today?