YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Igrot Hare’aya
Body : [The discussion had just turned to philosophical matters. In the background, Rav Lintop apparently critiqued Rav Kook’s recent article, "Derech Hatechiya"]
The feeling of belief in Hashem, which is so strong, comes first. We need to strengthen it specifically at this time to make it as broad, general, and all-encompassing as can be. Afterward, we can begin clarifying concepts that have developed to the left and to the right. This requires extracting the impurities that lost their efficacy when they strayed too far. It also requires removing internal chaff from the estate of Jacob, the pure man who is missing nothing. It even has the substance that "draws out the undesirable parts of a pot of food, which it absorbed during cooking." It is worthwhile to maintain the nation’s honor and present its impurities to it in privacy, so that it can maintain its ability to march forward with valor, using its spirit, which knows its purity and truthfulness.
However, why should I speak in this venue (i.e., his recent article) about the difference between humanity in general and the unique nation and between the collective and its individuals. All of these points are special subsets of the overall enquiry; they are very appropriate when the time comes for details, but they have no special place when one first just looks into basic, broad ideas. The specific distinctions melt away when the overarching generalities shine in bright light. It is not that the individuals melt away or that "existence" gets any closer to earth, as Hashem is "a sun and a protector" (Tehillim 84:12), and Hashem "created the world to be inhabited, not to be void" (Yeshayahu 45:18).
However, the contrasting differences are responsible for a situation whereby every individual interferes with his peer, every piece of logic contradicts another, each group has a certain enmity toward a different group, and each individual has the attitude of "I alone shall rule." This form of void can be fixed by shining objectivity [at the misconceivers]. The divisive people who damage the world and commit iniquities cannot look at all-inclusive light and are broken by the power of their own destructiveness.
Igrot Hare’aya (200)
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit
167 - Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part III
168 - Maintaining a Friendship of the Spirit – #266 – part IV
169 - Keeping Shemitta Partially – #272
Load More
[We should understand] the gradual manner in which the spirit of life will return to the heart of our nation, which is fainting with a thirst for the clearly pronounced word of Hashem. It is through the straightening of the path of the wellspring of life which flows through the nature of the Jewish soul. This is connected to the belief, from the nation’s infancy, in unfathomable miracles, which can exist even during historical developments that hide the light of Hashem. These too are revelations of Hashem in the physical and spiritual world, as the world progresses in straightforward and complex ways. We must constantly have the inclination to appreciate goodness. The divine goodness that is revealed through harsh judgment will, in the future, appear with lightning bolts of glowing light more powerful than the superficial good that is revealed from sentimental love that will not conquer the paths of life or lead human society in all the ways of its life.
We continue next time.
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 Limits of Interest Rate for Loan with Heter Iska – part I
based on ruling 80033 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
P'ninat Mishpat Who Breached the Contract? – part IV
Based on ruling 81087 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Igrot Hare’aya Connecting Disciplines in Torah Study
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook 103 – part III
Igrot Hare’aya Excerpts of Letter on Shemitta – #289 – part I
Date and Place: 6 Nisan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Adding Elements to Strengthen the Heter Mechira – #313
Date and Place: 21 Sivan 5670 (1910), Yafo
Igrot Hare’aya Informing a Friend he Is Not Insulted – #320
Date and Place: 5 Menachem Av 5670 (1910), Rechovot (probably)
Igrot Hare’aya The State of Religion in Eretz Yisrael – #277 – part I
Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
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.
