Jewish Laws and Thoughts

Shabbat that Elevates Not Just the Secular but Even the Foreign

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 8

It's common knowledge that Shabbat elevates the secular to be holy, but Rav Kook writes that the ideal Shabbat will elevate even concepts which are foreign to Judaism.

When Should We Use Experience, Logic or Kabbala to Decide?

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 7

Life is full of choices and decisions, and Rav Kook analyzes when we should utilize personal experience, logic and/or kabbalistic means, and in which order? Similarly, in learning Torah and deciding halacha, these factors interplay.

Must I Immerse a Candy Dish?

I have a gift business in which I sell glass candy bowls filled with candies, fruits, and nuts. Must I toivel these dishes before I fill them?

Finding a Fruit with Kedushat Shvi’it

My wife shopped at a special kedushat shvi’it fruit distribution. A few hours later, I spotted on the walkway to our building (of seven apartments) a single fruit. I took it home and asked my wife, who said it made sense that it fell from her, but asked how we can know it is not from a neighbor who might have also bought. Do I have to put up a sign or ask neighbors (whom I trust) if it could be theirs? Is it more lenient because there is no ownership of kedushat shvi’it fruit?

Should Jews Be Proud of Einstein, Freud & Bob Dylan?

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 6

Many Jews have played disproportionally central roles in western science and culture, having 0.2% of the world's population winning 22% (!) of the Nobel Prizes. Instinctively, many of us are proud of our famous brothers, despite the fact that often their contributions are clearly "non-Jewishly" influenced, and sometimes even the antithesis of Judaism. On the other hand, Jewish pride is a clearly positive issue. Rav Kook has an innovative way of balancing the two, aided by the rabbinic disagreement regarding Joseph and Potiphar's wife.

Grand Opening!

Why is Kaddish in Aramaic? Isn’t it prohibited to pray in Aramaic and Arabic? In which arm does a lefty hold the sefer Torah? Do I join everyone in reciting Berich She’mei when I am in the middle of pesukei dezimra?

The Importance of Work & Secular Knowledge in Elevating the World

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 5

The western world generally relates to work and secular knowledge as a means to make money, as opposed to Judaism who sees the spiritual and redeeming aspect of these "mundane" topics. Rav Kook, as always, has a surprising and innovative view, especially important for a polarized Judaism which sees just learning Torah as the goal and other issues as a nuisance, as well as today's high standard of living, which brings many to think that work is only a necessity for the lacking.

How Can We Know There Is a G-d?

How can we know with certainty that there is a G-d?