Rav Kook's optimism explains that what seems "bad" is just the "developing good", and takes issue with neo-paganism, Schoppenhauer and the school of pessimism.
Genetics, surroundings, experience all contribute to our personality, as well as our spouse's and children's. Nevertheless it all is decided by our destining our fate through decisions.
Reward and punishment of the individual and nation in Israel and has pre-occupied many Jewish philosophers and Rav Kook suggests an innovative solution.
Life is comprised of many challenges which raise many questions about how G-d runs the world and why bad things sometimes happen to good people? Rav Kook suggests that this is essential for life and spirituality.
Rav Kook 's "Holistic" approach stresses the need for both rational and emotional answers to questions, and you can't educate using 1 without the other.
In Jewish tradition the house of worship, of prayer, was meant to be a soulful place. It was not meant to be a place of entertainment or even of the mere fulfillment of a religious obligation.
The reason that common sense is so often ignored is that it usually leaves one with a painful decision to make. Human nature abhors having to make painful decisions. Hence, common sense is relegated to one’s subconscious and reappears as regret and attempted repentance.
Why did G-d create Am Yisrael as a nation and not just a religion? Why, in addition to the mitzvot between individual Jews, and between man and G-d, does the Torah call for a framework of a national land, army, political system, and even coin?
