The Kuzari: On the Karaites

In this passage, Judah ha-Levi traces the end of prophecy, the rise of the rabbis, and the beginnings of Karaism. In claims reminiscent of Muslim approaches to oral teachings, ha-Levi asserts that the heretics were few in number. For ha-Levi, the greatest of the rabbis reached levels near prophecy, confirming their authority and the truth of their rulings. Unlike many Rabbanites—who considered ‘Anan ben David to be the first Karaite—ha-Levi thinks that Karaism had even more ancient roots. He thus interprets a talmudic legend about King Yannai as referring to Karaite origins. Interestingly, many later Karaites adopted ha-Levi’s account of their origins, proudly proclaiming that their movement originated in the times of the Second Temple.