Hello, I'm looking for something written about why most of Rav Kook's books are called 'Orot' ('Lights'). Thanks!

A. The closest that I know of where Rav Kook explains the difference between light and darkness, which would also explain the names of his books, is in Orot HaKodesh ii, p. 440 (bottom paragraph, but one must learn the entire article there in order to understand the context). The Rav writes there that the difference between light and darkness, is that when you take all of the colors and "mush" them together, one on top of the other, you get "darkness". But if you take those exact colors and arrange them one next to the other in the proper order, where each color is also expressed and harmonizes with the others, that is the prism which comprises light. This the secret of the world (music harmonizes the various sounds as opposed to anarchy which sounds terrible; a salad is tasty as opposed to mushing those same vegetable together in a blender; art matches the various colors as opposed to clashing them). He writes there about how we want diversity, and every stream and movement has part of the unified Godly truth, and the only way the One G-d is revealed to the world is through the revelation of all of the truths together (Hassidim & Mitnagdim, right-wing (nationalist) and left-wing (universalists), religious & Zionist, masculine & feminine etc.). In short: unity but not uniformity ("אחדות ולא אחידות"). Thus, they not only harmonize and complete, but also balance each other from getting extreme (see also Orot, p. 70-72). It's natural and inevitable that individuals and various groups stress certain aspects of ideology, but they must not only tolerate, but even encourage and work together with the other approaches. Rav Kook's books has been summarized by his prime student the Nazir zt"l, as the "All-Encompassing Unity" ("האחדות הכוללת"), or by R. Moshe Zvi Neria zt"l (and Prof. A. Rosenak) as: "Unifying Opposites" ("איחוד ההפכים"), which proves the correctness of the above explanation. In addition, the following points have also been offered: 1. Similar to the Zohar which means "illuminating" or "shining light", which has the connotation of enlightening, warm & appealing, including the deep & kabbalistic aspects of Torah. 2. In one his his earlier works, Orot HaTeshuva, the explanation of the name is clear: a warm, light and appealing approach to Teshuva with which we all can identify (see there: 5, 3, that is not an answer to "sin", but a natural movement of evolution which encompasses all of creation and surely mankind and us as individuals, as well (even toothpaste is labeled: "New & Improved")- as opposed to the more common depressing and pessimistic approach. This also helps us understand the name of Rav Kook's other books as well, for every believer is inevitably optimistic, for there is a G-d Who continuously guides and directs the world and history towards evolution and constant improvement & redemption. בהצלחה וכתיבה וחתימה טובה לך ולביתך ולכל בית ישראל! Rav Ari Shvat