YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient : Moshe Zeidel, a close disciple of Rav Kook from his time in Europe. In a postscript, Rav Kook’s son apologizes in his father’s name, that he had lacked the presence of mind to write clearly.
Body : I feel obligated to awaken your pure spirit regarding the opinions that abound in the new research, which often contradict the simple reading of matters in the Torah. My opinion is that anyone whose has a straight mindset should know that although this research’s veracity is unclear, we still have no need to resolutely contradict and oppose them. That is because it is not a principle of the Torah that it needs to tell simple historical facts. The main thing is the essence and internal explanation of the matters. These actually are further elevated whenever something stands up against it, which we need to overcome.
This basic idea appears in the Moreh Nevuchim (I:71), and now we are able to broaden what was written there. It makes no difference to us if there really was an ideal time and place in which Adam enjoyed great physicality and spirituality, or whether the world actually progressed from man being more lowly and developed toward an increasingly higher level.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
107 - Reaction to the Encyclopedia “Otzar Yisrael”
108 - How to React to Academia’s Version of Tanach Events
109 - Remarks on a Yom Kippur Machzor
Load More
The main grandeur of our lives is truth, which is the highest form of unity and eternal glory, along with inseparable eternal justice. This is the Torah’s soul, through which we can gaze at the Torah and its cloaks. The theory of gradual evolution is in the beginning of its development. Certainly, the theories will change. They will find areas that can only be seen as jumps in the world’s development, which help make the world what it is. Then the light of Israel will be clear and radiant.
This is opposite what the gentile researchers and their Jewish followers think, that Tanach is to be understood as Christians do – that the world is one great prison. In truth, the Torah is full of light and happiness, as the past indicates, that man was originally very happy until sin ruined things. Obviously, this stumbling block will be fixed, and man will return forever to his level. In contrast, the idea of development without help from the past is scary, as something can get in one’s way or cause him to retreat. According to this approach, we have no reason to conclude that good things are the natural form. Therefore, specifically the fact that man was in the Garden of Eden keeps the light of the world going. Thus, it makes more sense to view it as a historical event, although it is not important to us that this is the case.
There is a major principle in the war of opinions. We do not need to immediately contradict every school of thought that comes to contradict the Torah. We can build the palace of the Torah above it. Then the idea can even be elevated and can help us reveal truths. When the idea does not pressure us, we can fight it later with full confidence. There are a few examples of this, but it is difficult for me to write at length. Brevity is enough for someone like you, and you will know how to prevail in Hashem’s Name.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael
#222 Date and Place: 2 Elul 5669 (1909), Rechovot
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale That Turned Out Not Happening – part II
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Igrot Hare’aya What Requires Protest? – #279
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 15 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
