Cuzary libro de grande sciencia y mucha doctrina, by R. Judah Halevi. Translated into Spanish from the Hebrew translation by R. Jacob Abendana. Amsterdam: [n.p.], 1663. Spanish.

The first Spanish translation of Sefer HaKuzari, one of the fundamental works of Jewish thought and philosophy. The translation was not based on the original Judeo-Arabic text but rather on the famous Hebrew translation by R. Judah ibn Tibbon.

The translator,
R. Jacob Abendana (1630-1695), a Dutch-English scholar of Sephardic descent, served as the Hakham of the Spanish-Portuguese Jewish community in London and as the Chief Rabbi of the Jews of England. He produced this translation following a correspondence with the German-Christian theologian Anton Hulsius, who sought to convert him to Christianity.

The author,
R. Judah Halevi (ca. 1075-1141), was among the greatest Jewish poets and philosophers of the Middle Ages. The book, originally written in Judeo-Arabic under the title Kitab al-Radd wa al-Dalil fi al-Din al-Dhalil (The Book of Refutation and Proof on Behalf of the Despised Religion), became known as the Kuzari due to its dialogue format between the King of the Khazars and a Jewish scholar (referred to as "the Haver"). It comprises five sections (ma’amarim), outlining the core principles of Jewish faith. A key aspect of the work is its emphasis on the foundation of Jewish belief through historical prophetic revelation, in contrast to other philosophical works that base religious belief on logical and rational arguments.

Sefer HaKuzari was accepted as a classic book on Jewish faith throughout the generations, employed by many thinkers. Especially famous are the words of the Gaon of Vilna in praise of the book, quoted by his disciple R. Yisrael of Shklow: "He [the Gaon of Vilna] would instruct to study Sefer HaKuzari first, since it is holy and pure, and fundaments of Jewish faith and Torah rest upon it" (Tosefet Maaseh Rav, Jerusalem, 1896, leaf 21).

See: Moshe Lazar, Book of the Kuzari... a 15th century Ladino translation, Culver City (California): Labyrinthos, 1990, introduction.

[4] leaves, 306 pages. 19.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark stains and light dampstains. Minor creases. Worming. Slight tears to several leaves, some repaired with tape, slightly affecting text. Numerous handwritten annotations. Bookplate on inner front cover. New binding with leather spine.