אהבת האל וכתיבה אזוטרית בספר העקרים לר' יוסף אלבו

Within the framework of medieval Jewish thought, two different interpretations of the human love of God are discernible. One is rationalistic, as is commonly attributed to Maimonides. The other is spiritualistic, such as that of R. Hasdai Crescas. The present paper offers an explication of the discussions on this issue in R. Joseph Albo's Book of Roots, a treatise that was deeply influenced by both Maimonides and Crescas. This paper aims to show that Albo's discussions on the love of God reveal an inner contradiction between two opposing perceptions: inclusive and exclusive. The former identifies the love of God with the Aristotelian concept of love, thus insisting that it is motivated by the apprehension of God's goodness and its beneficial effect on humans. The latter attributes the love of God to the apprehension of God as the ultimate good in itself, while totally rejecting all subjective-utilitarian considerations. This contradiction will be examined against the background of the respective Jewish and Christian approaches; however, the main focus of the present study is the literary role of this contradiction. I would like to argue that to a large extent it reflects an esoteric method of writing, and as such it supports the thesis that esoteric writing is an essential feature of Albo's Roots.