Sorry, Yaakov, I completely disagree with you, The Lubavitz have the same freedom of speech right that any other religious faction might have. You just say "No" and they let you go...
As for the Kuzarim (Khazars), I am sure you realize that the "Hungarian" branch is only a very small splinter from the whole "group". Ibn Shaprut Exchanges with King Ovadia (then The king of Khazar) are probably the best "proofs" that they indeed were "somewhat Jewish". There are a lot of disagreements as to whether they were Karaites, or following the Baghdad Rabinical route. Some sources indicate that they retained some habits from their idolitary ages as well. Yehuda Ha Levi, wrote a book "HaKuzari", in which he really uses the Khazars as a backdrop for a "disertation" on which religion of the three monotheistic ones is "closer to the truth". Of course, he did not conclude, nor has anyone else since, despite shedding quite a lot of blood (rather than ink) on that question.
Zeev |
