Kuzari, philosophical work on the fundamentals of Jewish faith, by R. Yehudah HaLevi, translated from Judeo-Arabic to Hebrew by R. Yehudah ibn Tibbon. [Fano: Gershom Soncino, 1506]. First edition.
Title on title page: Sefer HaKuzar. Two poems in praise of the book on verso of title page.
The second leaf states: "Sefer HaKuzari, authored in Arabic by the great sage, master poet, R. Yehudah HaLevi of Spain, translated by R. Yehudah ibn Tibbon of Granada, Spain into Hebrew in Lunel, 1167".
This is the first edition of the Kuzari, a classic of Jewish thought and philosophy. The author, R. Yehudah HaLevi (ca. 1075-1141), was a prominent medieval Jewish poet and philosopher. The book, originally written in Judeo-Arabic and titled "The Book of Refutation and Proof on Behalf of the Despised Religion", is best known as the Kuzari after its contents, describing a dialogue between the Khazar king and a Jewish scholar. Importantly, this book grounds Jewish belief on the historicity of prophetic revelation, as opposed to other works which used intellectual arguments and proofs for faith.
The Kuzari has been acknowledged as a foundational work on Jewish thought throughout the generations, to which many thinkers are indebted. The praise for the book articulated by the Vilna Gaon is particularly well known, as recorded by his disciple R. Yisrael of Shklow: "[The Vilna Gaon] used to say to study the first book of the Kuzari, which is holy and pure, and the principles of Jewish belief and the Torah depend on it" (Tosefet Maaseh Rav, Jerusalem 1896, leaf 21).
The book was originally written in Judeo-Arabic, and has been translated into Hebrew several times. The translation in the present edition is that of R. Yehudah ibn Tibbon, which was the common translation for centuries.
Colophon on final leaf, stating that the book was commissioned by the sons of Don Yosef ibn Yachya of Lisbon, Portugal, and was completed in the third year of the reign of Pope Julius II, in 1506, by Gershom Soncino in Fano (the colophon lists several generations of the Ibn Yachya family).
On second leaf – signature (deleted with ink): "Yosef Yerushalmi", and another inscription, deleted with ink.
Ownership inscription on leaf [61]: "Granted by G-d to His servant, so says Yechiel son of R. Shlomo Igra Yerushalmi"; "I purchased it for Eliyahu Yosef Merari son of R. Refael[?] Yosef of Essaouira[?] ---".
Trimmed glosses on margins of two leaves.
Complete copy. [62] leaves. 19.5 cm. Varying condition; first leaves and several others in fair condition, rest in fair-good condition. Stains, including dampstains and traces of former dampness with mold stains. Tears and open tears, including large open tears to title page, affecting part of title and affecting poem on verso in many places, and slightly affecting text in several other places, repaired with paper filling (with photocopy and handwritten replacements). Bookplate of collector Elkan Nathan Adler inside front board. Old binding, somewhat loose, with leather spine. Wear and defects to binding (spine partially detached, with tear across margins).
The present copy includes the third leaf, containing an attack on Christianity, which was removed from many copies.
This book was printed by the renowned Jewish printer Gershom Soncino, one of the most prominent Hebrew printers in Italy. Soncino traveled with his family and printing equipment through various Italian cities, printing Hebrew books wherever he stayed.
Provenance:
1. Elkan Nathan Adler Collection, London.
2. Salman Schocken Collection, Jerusalem.
3. Kestenbaum, New York, 2 June 2003, Lot 13.
