Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Recipient : Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Halevi. As mentioned, we have featured many letters between the two. The ideological negotiations between the two, around the question of Rav Halevi’s help with Rav Kook’s proposed yeshiva, focus this time on the study of Machshevet Yisrael (Jewish Philosophy).
Body : I want that the upper echelon of the institution, the full-time yeshiva, will learn Torah in the broadest sense, consisting of all its parts, both from a practical perspective and a more theoretical, spiritual perspective. You apparently do not agree, and what I desire to include in the set Torah study, you apparently call "old investigations, which do not make a difference in our days." I must clarify matters, so that hopefully we can agree on this fundamental point.
When I say that we need to learn the Torah’s spiritual side on a regular basis, as it is the generation’s salvation, I do not at all mean to limit my aspirations to studying a set list of books, classic or more recent ones. I do not intend to promote study of Rav Saadia Gaon’s Emunot V’de’ot, the Moreh Nevuhim, the Kuzari, or the like, so students will know what they say and use their ideas in our philosophical battles. I agree that much of what they wrote is outdated because the world no longer accepts the old philosophical foundations. We still have interest in studying these works, because they contain eternal ideas that cannot be nullified by the time’s prevalent scientific assumptions.
The world has moved on from the whole approach, because they have left the realm of spiritual ideas and have embraced the study of life and activity instead. In truth, [the world] is very negatively affected by the absence in its thoughts of the "oil of spirituality." It robs them of all the grace and gentleness of the circle of life. Therefore, clearly, they will eventually return to search with candles for the spiritual treasure the world abandoned in favor of briskly adopting life’s material side.
In any case, this applies only to special individuals, and therefore these are not elements [I look to teach students because of its practical value], but rather because it is included in the obligation of Torah study in its most complete degree, and the value will eventually be reached. Therefore, I do not remove any element of such study, which are part of the Torah’s spiritual treasure house, whether in the Written Law or Oral Law, from the medieval or more recent thinkers, whether those with a philosophical approach or those who research, Kabbalists, experts in aggadic literature and homiletics or those who focus on ethics and lessons in service of Hashem. They all represent a major area of Torah, and therefore there is a major obligation to know the works.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
127 - Do We Need New Paths?
128 - The Study of Machshevet Yisrael in Yeshiva - part I
129 - The Study of Machshevet Yisrael in Yeshiva
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False Accusation of Non-Kosher Soap – #333
Date and Place: Yafo, 5 Nisan 5670 (1910)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Tammuz 5785
Good Work, Regrettable Language – #330
Date and Place: 21 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Sivan 5785
Asking Restraint from Insulted New Yishuv – #334
Date and Place: Tammuz 5670 (1910)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Tammuz 5785
Description of New Yeshiva’s Goals to a Supporter – #328
Date and Place: 12 Elul 5670 (1910), Yafo
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Sivan 5785
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
Interceding Regarding a Will
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook #105
Sivan 28 5782
Semi-solicited Advice to Calm Down Petach Tikva
#227 Date and Place: 8 Tishrei 5669, Yafo
19 Sivan 5784
Trying to Arrange Purchase of Land in Eretz Yisrael – part II
#229 Date and Place: 13 Tishrei 5670 (1909), Yafo
19 Sivan 5784
