Rabbi Yehuda Halevi was a physician, philosopher and poet. He is thought to be born in Toleda, Spain sometime in the late 11th century1. Born into a wealthy family, he was likely sent to be educated in the school of Isaac alfaasi in Lucena, Granada, where he was immersed in Jewish studies. In Granada, “he was quickly recognized for his poetic ability after winning a contest in Cordova in which entrants were asked to write a poem matching the complex style of a composition by the famed Moses ibn Ezra.” Moshe Ibn Ezra then supported Yehuda Halevi after that, and Yehuda Halevi went on to compose, “numerous poems on mainly secular themes over several years” while under the older Poet’s patronage. In addition to his Jewish knowledge, his is also well-versed in Arabic literature and Greco-Arabic Philosophy.1,2
Rabbi Yehuda Halevi’s poems follows the theme of Hebrew Poetry at the time, which incorporated biblical language as well as Arabic rhyme schemes. Additionally, he expanded his writings to secular (whimsical and joyful) themes, as well as religious topics, which were mournful and serious. He has contributed a vast collection, numbering in the thousands, of extant Hebrew medieval poetry, and is regarded by many scholars as the most influential Hebrew poet of the Middle Ages. Rabbi Halevi is also known for his discussions on philosophy, particularly his most famous published works, Kuzari. He presents a defense of the Jewish religion in conversation with the other two major monotheistic religions: Islam and Christianity, recounts biblical history, and discusses religious ethics2. Indeed, Kuzari is a “restatement of many of the central ideas of Judaism, and an apparent rejection of Aristotelian and Neoplatonic influences on religious thought.”1 Notably though, “the Jewish sage of the Kuzari resolves to journey to Jerusalem,” proclaiming that “Jerusalem can only be rebuilt when Israel yearns for it to such an extent that they embrace her stones and dust.”
The poem featured in this digital collection also represents the longing for the reconstruction of the Jewish Holy Temple and return to Israel in similarly dramatic language.