YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- The Life of Tzaddikim
- Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook
- Family and Society
- The Nation of Israel
- Attitude Towards Jews Who Are Not Observant
A. You have raised an interesting and important issue – however, in the specific case of Rav Kook, it simply is not relevant. You are mistaken in your description of the situation, as if Rav Kook's "innovative thought" rendered him a lone voice, without rabbinic support from previous generations. This simply is not true.
Allow me to relate in brief to two specific issues that you alluded to: Zionism, and the relationship between the sacred and the profane. Very many great contemporary rabbis of Rav Kook, and others of later decades, viewed the Zionist movement in a positive light. These included Rabbis Reiness, Kalischer, Moshe Kalfon HaCohen, Soloveitchik, and many more. (Rabbi Yitzchak Dadon, prolific author of Torah works and a former soldier who fatally shot the Palestinian terrorist who murdered eight students in Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav in 2008, wrote a series of books in which he listed hundreds of rabbis who supported the establishment of the State of Israel.)
Most rabbis actually did not even deal with the subject, and especially before 1948. For instance, Rabbi Yisachar Teichtal spent many years as a rabbi in a very anti-Zionist Hungarian community without dealing with the topic – until he wrote his famous work, Eim HaBanim Smeichah. In this work, he brought hundreds of Jewish sources in support of the modern movement to settle the Land of Israel. He also wrote there: "I will acknowledge the truth and mention my sins, that I too was very much against the enterprise of building the Land, because I blindly followed many hareidi leaders, and it was rooted thusly in my heart, and I took no interest in it at all… And only after [the Holocaust began] and we were so sorely stricken in this Exile, I looked into this Halakhic matter and G-d enlightened my eyes, showing me that I and all those who objected to it had been mistaken…"
Furthermore, when the State was established, a declaration was published on which were signed nearly all the Torah greats in the country, saying they viewed what was happening as "the beginning of Redemption" (at'chalta d'geula).
Your question should therefore be the opposite: Upon which sources did those who did not cooperate with the Zionist movement rely, given the fact that the mitzvah of settling the Land is one of the Torah's most central commandments?
Let me now relate to the issue of whether secular studies and culture have a place in Torah life. The position that the secular and the holy must be kept separate – a position that has gained some standing over the past 200 years – is a relatively marginal approach. Those who promoted it apparently did so because they felt this was the way to deal with the crisis of increasing secularism. But in fact, the prevailing attitude throughout the generations was that which sees the secular world as an intrinsic part of G-d's world. Maimonides, for example, wrote that engaging in the study of science and the like is a Torah mitzvah. This is also the message given throughout the Bible.
How much more true is this when dealing with the Torah mitzvah of settling and living in the Land, which is intrinsically involved with material matters. Many hareidi rabbis, too, do not agree with the '"separation" approach.
It is true that during the period of Exile, when there was more tension between the secular and religious worlds, there was a tendency to stay away from the former. But now, the more the Redemption advances and the nation returns to its land, the more the two worlds are able to "make peace" with each other. This differentiation is found in the writings of the Maharal of Prague (Netzach Yisrael, chapter 16).
In conclusion, I would note that I actually do agree with the statement that Rav Kook was "unique" among other rabbis – in the sense that many of his contemporaries recognized his unique greatness in Torah scholarship, character, and more. For instance, one of the great rabbis of Jerusalem, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, said at Rav Kook's funeral that he was "one in his generation in genius, in righteousness, in piety." The Chazon Ish wrote to Rav Kook and termed him, "His glorious honor, our master" – terms that he used only for the generation's greatest rabbinic leaders. At a public event in which many rabbis took part, the Chazon Ish stood up only for Rav Kook, explaining that "the Torah is standing before me."
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Rabbi Yaakov Cohen
Teaches in the Beit El Yeshiva.
Harav Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook Weren't Rav Kook's Positions Unique Among Rabbis?
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
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.
