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Recipient: R. Dr. Moshe Zeidel. He was a close disciple of Rav Kook, from their time in Boisk. Dr. Zeidel was a philologist and philosopher, who asked Rav Kook many philosophical questions. His approach to Torah studies was more "academic" than Rav Kook’s, which is noteworthy in this section.
Body: Last time, Rav Kook wrote about the appropriateness of mixing new and old spiritual tools and about the nation’s broad thirst for spirituality, which caused a thirst that, at the time, was unhealthy for many. The last idea mentioned was that the people, especially those living in Eretz Yisrael, must realize their great value.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
56 - Course of Study in Contemporary Times
57 - Course of Study in Contemporary Times
58 - Course of Study in Contemporary Times
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Hopefully, involvement in these spiritual elements will become so successful that all young, talented students of Torah will be adept at various styles of analysis of these matters, just as the practical elements (Talmud and Halacha) are today. Indeed, spiritual study will elevate and broaden practical study. Therefore, when you share with me your scholarly investigations of matters of Torah and engage me with questions, it makes me happy. I thank Hashem that my voice is not like one shouting into the desert wind and hope that many will follow your example.
I need to point something out to you about the proper order of reaching mastery in these realms. I have claimed that one should begin with a serious amount of basic-level mastery of the classical sources of mussar (Jewish ethics). You can study them in any order because they all flow from the heart of the greatest thinkers and righteous people. Many of the in-depth analyses cannot be done properly before one has properly prepared his emotions. This is the reason that the Torah is called a song, in addition to a commandment, as one needs to use a special feeling of the Torah being the word of the living G-d, and this comes only with a pure heart. This is appropriate for the study of the Torah’s ethical elements, which do not fit well as subjects of academic-style research. Rather the idea is for the spirit to be set on its internal foundations, as opposed to trying to move to new places and pursue knowledge of Hashem.
Regarding the points you raised, although they were already addressed in the past, they need to be clarified in our times as well. This must be done by elevating the elements of wisdom to higher, wider concepts. In that way, the truth is revealed without special answers.
Whenever a person investigates an issue, he must prepare himself to be close to the matter that is being investigated. If he succeeds, he may sense the solution from his own spirit. If he does not prepare himself, he will lack something critical for uncovering the truth. To know matters of truth that are hidden in the light of the Torah, which is the image of existence in relation to practical ethics, individually and universally, first one must determine the truth and view the images as well as he can. This must be done not according to the level of a particular generation, but according to the way the ethical matter must ideally be even in other, future situations. It must always be fit to accomplish good, proper things.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
P'ninat Mishpat Payments after a Gradual End of Employment
(Based on ruling 82024 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Profits from Formerly Joint Swimming Pool – part
(based on ruling 81110 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Igrot Hare’aya Worse on the Outside, Better on the Inside – #332
Date and Place: 26 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Refuting Criticism by the Ridbaz – #311 – part III
Date and Place: 19 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Public Letter on Observance of Shemitta – #287 – part II
Date and Place: 4 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part II
Date and Place: 6 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
