Judah Halevi’s Karaite Experience – the Story of a Poem Cover Image
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Karaimskie doświadczenie Jehudy ha-Lewiego – historia pewnego wiersza
Judah Halevi’s Karaite Experience – the Story of a Poem

Author(s): Barbara Gryczan
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, History of Judaism
Published by: Żydowski Instytut Historyczny
Keywords: Judah Halevi; medieval Hebrew poetry; Yedidei El ani eqra aleykhem; Rabbanite-Karaite relations (11th-12th c.)

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on Juda Halevi’s Hebrew poem Yedidei El ani eqra aleykhem – originally a toast pronounced by the poet at a Karaite wedding – analyzing in detail the editorial process in general, and censorship in particular, that it underwent. It includes the Hebrew source texts and Polish translations of both the original and censored versions of the poem. In addition, the paper investigates the literary features and historical background of the text and its creation, discussing Halevi’s possible connections with the Castilian Karaite community. Finally, it explores the poet’s attitude towards the Karaites and Karaism as reflected in the poem (as well as his other works), addressing the question of possible reasons for later censorship.

  • Issue Year: 271/2019
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 677-689
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish, Hebrew