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Beit Midrash
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- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
R. Avraham ben-tziyon ben shabtai
Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah was very pained by the fact that in a memorial oration whose purpose it was to honor one great individual, hinted criticism was voiced concerning Rabbi Kook. Moreover, who dare criticize Rabbi Kook?! This happened a short time before the third of Elul - the date of Rabbi Kook's death. When the third of Elul arrived - Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah spoke about his deceased father, Rabbi Kook, and made reference to this matter.
It states in the weekly Torah portion: "If you come upon a bird's nest... chase away the mother" (Deuteronomy 22:6). The Mishna teaches that "one who says: 'Your lovingkindness extends to the bird's nest… must be silenced." That is, if a person says: "Your lovingkindness extends to the bird's nest" - i.e., Just as You, God, have given us this commandment which embodies Your attribute of lovingkindness, so too display lovingkindness towards us - he must be silenced. The Talmud explains the reason for this: One who says this assigns to God's ways the attribute of lovingkindness, when, in fact, God's ways are "decrees." That is, the ways of God are not governed by "lovingkindness" in the human sense of the word. They are, in fact, divine "decrees" - beyond our comprehension.
Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah continued, explaining that the lovingkindness of one who follows the ways of the Almighty, is not the result of human weakness. Such a person's lovingkindness is similar to divine decree. This, in fact, is Torah! The lovingkindness, love for the Jewish people, and entire outlook of Rabbi Kook were not ruled by mere human compassion. They were motivated by divine decree. Rabbi Kook's love for the Jewish people was the result of penetrating and divine insight into the true essence of the Jewish people. "And one who speaks in such a manner regarding Rabbi Kook must be silenced!" shouted Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah.
Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah told all of this to me incidentally. In fact, he merely wished to explain to me why the family of the Rabbi who had spoken in honor of Rabbi Chaim Ozer was upset with him. Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah believed that it was because of his having said in response to words of that Rabbi that he "must be silenced." The impact of Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah's demand was felt.
This is a deep concept. The ways of God are not governed by anything even resembling human lovingkindness. They are ruled by divine wisdom. They are absolute decrees. Such was the nature of Rabbi Kook's love for the Jewish people. I later came across this concept in Rabbi Kook's seminal work, "Orot" (Orot Yisrael, chpt. 4).
We are the torchbearers of Rabbi Kook's profound approach, an approach which went misunderstood in the Rabbi's own day. Indeed, it continues to be somewhat misunderstood by many - and perhaps to the majority - of Israel's Torah scholars today. They were unable to fully grasp his teachings in his time, and today, too, are unable to fully grasp them.
The Talmud tells us that the Sages were unable to fully grasp the teachings of Rabbi Meir. In addition, it is told of Rabbi Meir that he traveled afar for a year. Because he was without a Scroll of Ester, when the Purim holiday arrived he wrote a scroll from memory and read from it. And though ordinarily it is forbidden to write the Scroll of Ester from memory, Rabbi Meir was an exception, for "the entire Torah was as if before his very eyes." The entire Torah was before his eyes, and because of his greatness, other sages were unable to fully grasp his teachings.
Some Torah scholars reach unique levels of greatness, and, as a result, few are able to truly grasp their teachings. Sometimes it takes generations for their profundity to become apparent and understood. Though in the days of Rabbi Kook only a handful of individuals understood him, those who met him admired him greatly.
It is well known that Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, one of the leading Torah scholars in his day, grandfather of the Yeshiva world in Eretz Israel, and author of "Even HaEzel," greatly admired Rabbi Kook. It is told that when Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer visited Rabbi Chaim Ozer he said, "We are 'Torah giants' until we reach the door of Rabbi Kook; when we pass through Rabbi Kook's door we cease being 'giants.' We do not reach his level." It is also told that Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer - who in addition to being a leading scholar was also extremely pious - once spent time together with Rabbi Kook recuperating in the Carmel Mountains. When he saw the great fervor with which Rabbi Kook prayed the weekday afternoon prayer he said, "If only I could pray the 'Neilah' of Yom Kippur the way Rabbi Kook prays the ordinary weekday afternoon prayer while in recuperation."
Here, then, is a personage in whose light we may become illuminated.
Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook Weren't Rav Kook's Positions Unique Among Rabbis?
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook What Makes Rav Kook Into Such a "Game-Changer"?
An Overview of His Personality & Writings in Honor of His Yahrtzeit
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 2
The King of the Kazars, in his search for truth, starts by inviting the philosopher. This is a "crash-course" on Aristotelian philosophy and the reasons why the king is not convinced. Through this dialogue, R. Yehuda HaLevi already foreshadows some of his central ideas that will appear later.
Shavuot "Love of Torah = Love of Israel"- for Shavuot
People often identify Judaism as just a religion, but upon examination, we see, even halachically and explicitly in the siddur, that the Torah is dependent upon Am Yisrael, Jewish nationalism.
Ein Aya The Middle-Child & Anti-Tzni'ut Syndrome- Negative Attention
Although tzni'ut is for men just like women, Rav Kook deals here with the sources in Yishayahu and the Talmud which deals with the special problem of lack of tzni'ut in women's dress and actions, where it's not just a problem of midot and character traits, but also can include practical, social and national ramifications, as well, which caused the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash and exile from Israel. The class continues the previous one (Ayn Aya Shabbat vi, 29), and is a must for all educators and parents of high-school aged and young adults.
P'ninat Mishpat P'NINAT MISHPAT: A Mess of Loans, Repayments and Grievances – part II
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
based on ruling 83033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts