Can Z'chut Avot Ever "Run-Out"?

How does Z'chut Avot (merit of our fore-fathers) work? Why should their actions thousands of years ago, still be effective, say if over the more than 100 generations, we may have done many more sins that eventually out-weigh even their many merits? And if so, does that mean that there possibly may not be a ge'ula (redemption), if we really don't deserve it? Especially today, when most Jews (especially outside of Israel), aren't that observant, this topic is particularly pertinent. As usual, Rav Kook zt"l has an innovative approach to the topic. (Rav Kook, Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 31)

The Different Levels On Which G-d Runs the World & Transmits to Us

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 241

Anyone who believes that G-d runs the world knows that he does so via various ways & on many different levels. Rav Kook deals with these many venues how He transmits messages to us & analyzes the extent of the direct & indirect levels, including dreams (mine & those around me) sickness (mine & those around me), accidents, challenges etc. The question of "why bad things happen to good people" is based upon the mistaken & even childish thought that life is supposed to be smooth, as opposed to Judaism which sees life as challenges, some pleasant & others not, which are sent us as G-d's way of helping us grow, be independent & Godly. Many aspects of life have nothing to do with "reward & punishment", but are "wake-up calls" to analyze ourselves.

So What’s the Goal of Life?!!

We all know that if you don't have a goal, you can't score! We all have many goals, but is there one which encompasses and is the common denominator of them all? Such a definition will prevent us from feeling torn between the many goals and roles we have. One theory is that the goal of life is pleasure, which is the common denominator of all people. On the other hand, all those people also have an ideal for which they are willing to forego all of their pleasure, inferring that ideals supersede pleasure! The class suggests that these 2 theories are 1 and the same, for we all want pleasure, but ideals are not 3rd class (short-term) pleasure, nor 2nd class (long-term) pleasure, but rather 1st class, eternal pleasure.

Why Did the Rabbis Add So Many Mitzvot?

Appreciating the Minutiae and Ideals of Rabbinic Mitzvot

Rav Kook deals with the classic questions asked by any thinking practicing Jew: Why did the rabbis institute so many additional rabbinic laws, which pre-occupy us day and night? Did the Torah not command us enough obligations and restrictions?! In this famous article from Orot called "Chacham Adif miNavi", Rav Kook suggests a totally innovative approach to appreciating the minutiae and ideals of Rabbinic Mitzvot, enlightening and motivating us in their observance.

What Happens After We Die?

About Heaven- Hell- Revival of the Dead- Reincarnation

Why aren't heaven and hell more discussed in the Torah? How can we really believe in Olam Haba if we don' have proof that it exists? Why do we want Techiyat Hametim to happen if Olam Haba is so amazing? Who goes to heaven and who doesn't?

Bad Turns to Good Through Perspective

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 55 (p1)

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.

Complete G-dliness Doesn't Weaken But Enhances Natural Drives

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 50

Marital relations are an expression of the desirous G-dly love and is not only for procreation.

A Natural Process is Preferable to Miracles

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 42-43

Don't be disappointed that the present redemption is coming through natural means for this is better for "where we are" spiritually.

Is there Evolution or Are the Generations Diminishing?

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 38

The difference of general direction between the masses who are improving and the scholars who are not.

If the Main World is in Heaven- Why is There Such a Strong Instinct to Survive?

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 35

We should be pre-occupied with fixing this world, and not with Heaven.

Timing is of the Essence When Uniting Opposites

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 31

Rav Kook's vision of revealing the unity of G-d's world nevertheless calls for that first stage of division and contradicition.

Yes- It "Would Spoil Some Vast Eternal Plan if I were a Wealthy Man"

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 27 (p1)

In G-d"s complex world, there is a collective need for Economical Upper, Middle and Lower Class for many reasons.

One Light Harmonizing the Necessary Variant Colors

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 24

Harmony is one of the keys to understanding G-d's world, where the differences aren't contradicting but embellishing, and exprss true unity (=G-d).

Nature and Nurture And Our Free Will

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 82

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.

The Interrelationship Between Reward and Punishment of the Jew and His Nation

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 64

Reward and punishment of the individual and nation in Israel and has pre-occupied many Jewish philosophers and Rav Kook suggests an innovative solution.

Why Are There So Many Questions and Difficulties in Judaism?

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 58-59

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.

The Intellectual and Emotional Approaches to Questions in Faith/Emunah

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter A Paragraph 57

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.

The Nature of Evolution and Improvement

Introduction to Orot HaTshuva

Introduction to Orot HaTshuva

The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook

part I

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?

The Importance of the State of Israel in the Writings of Rabbi A.I. Kook

part II

In the previous part, we asked Why did G-d create an Jewish nation in its own land and not just a religion? We brought two reasons from Rav Kook's writings: an established nation can influence the rest of the nations and So that all should know, that not only outstanding individual can live in the light of G-d, but even entire nations can. In this part, we will see three more ideas to answer our question.