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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient : Rabbi Shmuel Alexandrov. Alexandrov was a yeshiva-trained scholar, who was an autodidact in languages, philosophy, and science. He was a very independent thinker who at times angered the Maskilim and at times angered traditional rabbis. He was a member of the Mizrachi movement and tried, over the years, to recruit Rav Kook to take a leadership role within that movement. This is one of many correspondences between the two on matters of Jewish philosophy.
Body : About the yeiush (despair; apparently, Alexandrov complained that the Jewish people’s outlook was overly gloomy), you have exaggerated the matter. It is true that our stature is diminished by a large measure, whether it be regarding the masses or the elite in the nation. However, when we look well at the matter, we will see that the solution to the diminishment is in the renewal of the loftiest life that our nation can look forward to.
The state of sleep in a living organism, especially in humans, causes the powers of the body to focus on the inside. In that state, logic and the senses do not work. What does work, and in a diligent manner, is the lower physical functions, and imagination works unimpeded. Wise and righteous people are exposed to spiritually elevated dreams, with visions of great importance, which excite the heart. This is on a level that is beyond what a person can sense awake. When a person starts to awaken, the imagination diminishes as does the more spiritual attainments, and powers of lower physicality weaken before the abilities of logic and full control of his senses and body return to function. At this time a person is groggy and is full of emotions that are similar to being burdened and in despair. One who is diligent will awaken like a lion when it is still very early, but even a brave man will not be able to escape from moments of weakness.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
119 - Is Israel So Different from the Nations?
120 - Our National Sleep
121 - Why Moshavot Do Not Appoint Rabbis
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Among the masses, the imagination played tricks, providing both pleasant and bitter dreams. Uniquely wonderful people saw lofty visions, based on eternal truths that lead in all matters. This is the way hundreds of years of slumber have transpired, and now the approaching of the end of days has but begun the process of reawakening. The eyes have opened, and we have begun to see clearly the world that surrounds us. The power of the "lower life," which is represented by sleep, has for the most part stopped. The period of widespread imagination has passed, as have the lofty, holy people. At this moment in history, we are in a state of weakness.
However, everyone should be able to see that this situation will not last for too long, but rather there will be a process of increasing light. Other nations did not require a period of sleep because they did not have such a long national life, which would weigh them down to that extent. Rather, when they became tired, they slept forever.
In contrast, about us it says: "I have lied down and slept; I have woken up because Hashem has supported me" (Tehillim 3:6). After a lot of toil, in the war of a life of materialism and spirituality, we slept, and it was an unpleasant sleep. However, on the inside, the storehouse of great life, which is the source of our national life, unique and of importance, remains.
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Igrot Hare’aya Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
P'ninat Mishpat Repercussions of a Sale that Turned Out Not Happening – part III
(based on ruling 83045 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat A Commercial Rental for a Closed Business – part II
based on ruling 80047 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Multiple Agreements and Parties – part IV
based on final ruling of 80082 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
Igrot Hare’aya Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part II
Date and Place: 6 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
