"Will Mashiach be More 'Dictator', 'President' or 'Prime Minister'?"

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 63

Rav Kook's innovative explanation of the Talmud regarding Uriah's sin in rebelling against King David, also consciously deals with his opinion regarding the type of government which Machiach is meant to lead, where he clearly will not be a dictator, but also not a prime minister. Rav Kook clearly agrees with his rebbe, the Netziv (Devarim 17, 14-15), who wrote that the form of government, whether democratic or a king, must be according to the popular will of the Jewish people. There are clearly ramifications as well regarding the modern democratic State of Israel which Rav Kook saw developing after the Balfour Declaration and founding of the nascent Knesset Yisrael.

Zionism Different than Other Patriotism

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 62

Rav Kook is often considered the spiritual father of religious Zionism. In this paragraph, his innovative explanation of King David, Bat-Sheva, Uriah HaChitti and the Amonite nation compares Zionism with other nationalism and patriotism of other nations.

Why the Wars & the Soldiers of Israel are Different

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 61

In this timely and especially important class, Rav Kook utilizes the gett (conditional divorce) which the House of David gave during war, to analyze why the soldies in the IDF and inevitably all Jewish soldiers, but especially religious Zionist chayalim fighting for Israel are altruistic and are able to rise above their natural instinct to survive for the eternal, moral, historic role of the Jewish Nation. The wars of Israel and the soldiers of Israel are inevitably different than the patriotism and nationalism found in other nations and wars who fight for more physical and temporary reasons.

Rav Kook on Rabbis & Leftists Who "Refuse to Serve" the IDF

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 60)

Rav Kook deals with the various opinions in the Talmud & rishonim of whether Uriah, the first husband of Batsheva, was deserving of death as a Mored b'Malchut (disobeying the king's authority). Rav Kook deals with the importance of the checks & balances which necessitate both a strong Jewish government and army, as well as a strong and moral Sanhedrin. He also deals with how every Jewish government, whether a king appointed by prophets, or judges (like Joshua, Gideon, the Maccabees, etc.) accepted by the people, or democratically elected governments all have a similar status regarding the obligation to respect and follow the law, and accordingly, both the "anti-Bibi" refusing pilots, as well as the Haredim who similarly don't follow the law of the land to serve in the IDF's milchamet mitzvah of self-defense, are severely sinning, especially during time of war, and at a time that the IDF is more than willing to meet all of the religious needs, in order to fill the present void of thousands of combat soldiers. They may even have the law of Mored b'Malchut!

Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 49

Sometimes the halacha apparently "needs" to be superseded by a greater cause. Judaism usually says that the ends doesn't justify the means, but Rav Kook discusses here when nevertheless it is allowed for rabbis to temporarily "sidestep" the halacha, and on what conditions it is warranted for rabbis to be more lenient than usual. Rav Kook reveals here some interesting autobiographical information, apparently regarding the Heter Mechira during Shemitta and when & why he allowed eating kitniyot oil and other controversial leniencies.

The Natural Process of Redemption is Even Better!

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 48)

For many reasons, contrary to popular belief, the natural process of redemption is, according to Rav Kook & the Maharal, is even better! The topic is connected with why the world was created via evolution and analyzing through examples why skipping stages in many aspects of life is counterproductive.

When to Initiate Hastening the Process and When Not

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 47

When to Initiate Hastening the Process & When to Leave God to Decide? (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 47)) How do we know when to work with God & initiate speeding up the process of redemption for example, and when to let Him do everything? Rav Kook connects this with the sin of Reuven and suggests an innovative explanation to one of the midrashim.

Improve the Present-U Can't Skip to the Future

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 46

The class deals with Rav Kook's way of presenting Kabbala rationally. It deals with the aspects of the revealed world (termed "Rachel") and the hidden world ("Leah"), and how the aspects of appreciating the present (happiness) interplays with the challenges with which life surprises us, giving us opportunities for constant free will to destine those challenges, and build a solid and beautiful future as well, as individuals and as a nation. Keeping one eye on the future doesn't contradict our living in the present.

4 Detractors of Z'chut Avot

The Talmud teaches that Z'chut Avot (the merits of our fore-fathers) can eventually run out, if Am Yisrael has too many "debits" or sins. Rav Kook analyzes the various opinions regarding the 4 points in Jewish history when the sages felt that Z'chut Avot finished, and how we manage since then.

Was Reuven Saved from Sinning

Rav Kook analyzes the various approaches in the Talmud regarding Reuven's sin with Bilha, and suggests an innovative explanation as to why the "ceremony" of the blessings & curses by Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval (upon entering the Land of Israel) adds to those mitzvot already commanded previously. (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 45)

Rav Kook's Innovative Approach to the Sins of our Biblical Fathers.

Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 44

Rav Kook, as expected, has an innovative approach to the places in Tanach where it's written that our Biblical heroes sinned, but sometimes our sages say that it wasn't so. Just as different ages require different educational approaches, similarly it's anachronistic to think that the eternal Torah cannot be understood differently in different generations. The messages are eternal but how to leave those same impressions may vary depending on age and time period. The Torah speaks on various levels, and the Written Law and Oral Tradition work together on these different levels. Rav Kook deals here also with midrashim that aren't necessarily meant to be taken as factual. (Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 44)

Why They-re Called David ben Yishai - Mashiach ben David.

(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 42)

Why are these 2 figures especially called by their fathers' names? This class deals with a very innovative explanation of an interesting and difficult midrash in Masechet Shabbat referring to the 4 who never sinned, especially Yishai, the father of King David. Also, Rav Kook deals here with the classic question, if the Davidic dynasty is so central to Judaism, why is it that through most of Jewish history it didn't function? Similarly, why is G-d's promise to David that his descendents will once again return to function?

The 4 Who Never Sinned

Rav Kook explains the Initial - Inevitable Flawlessness of Israel .

Rav Kook's innovative explanation of this puzzling gemara/midrash reveals new light on why these 4 character's never made any mistake, and just "died because of the sin of the snake, Adam & Eve. Rav Kook deals with the difference between the 1st line of heroes who all sinned, and those before and after them, who didn't. This classic class deals with leadership, as well as how the sources claim that Israel if flawless, even though we see our shortcomings! (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 40)

Evil is Good-Just the Wrong Size

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 40

This particularly important class deals with how Judaism views the purpose of bad or evil in the world, and how it serves the good. Rav Kook suggests an innovative explanation to the sin of the snake and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

"What Happens to Us After We Die?"

"What Really Happens After We Die?" Heaven, Hell, Reincarnation & Revival of Dead Many people are curious but are scared to ask, what does Judaism say happens to us after we die? This class deals with the mainstream of Jewish thought as to what happens in heaven? In hell? Do we believe in reincarnation? Who gets into heaven & who's left out? Who is woken in the Revival of the Dead, and who not? What is the order of things after death? What happens in Y'mot HaMashiach (the Messianic era)? This concentrated class cites the sources to clarify many of these puzzling question. Also, why aren't heaven & hell mentioned more in the Tanach?

How Free is Free-Will

Ayn Aya Masechet Shabbat v, 38

Rav Kook describes the strenth of free will and why death was decreed after the sin in Gan Eden.

You Don't Live in a Vacuum!"

Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 37

One of the disadvantages of western culture's obsession with ourselves, is that often we see people who make their daily life decisions, both small and large, as if they live in a vacuum, forgetting their surroundings, families, communities, Am Yisrael and previous, as well as future, generations. The fact that we don't live alone can sometimes be problematic, that it limits our "free-will" and we suffer from others' decisions & actions, but Rav Kook explains that it's also the solution, and we end up gaining a lot more than we lose by being part of something larger.

Death and the Transition Between Worlds

Rav Kook, Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 39

Death should not be scary but rather like a loving Father transferring his child to his bed. The world to come is full of "freedom and exemptions", but only after we gradually rise, through the challenges and mitzvot of this world.

How to be a Living Torah

Ayn Aya Shabbat 34

R. Kook corresponds here with R. Samson Raphael Hirsch regarding their difference of opinion in understanding the benefit of the mitzvot just through logic or also through the entire "Broad Torah", including Pardes, Hassidut, Kabbala, Philosophy and Mussar, and through "Knowing G-d"- analyzing & emulating His attributes.

"Not Without My Son (or My Father)!"

Why could Christianity think that they can replace Am Yisrael after Israel was sent to exile? Why the national redemption of Israel is necessary for the redemption of mankind, and the higher expression of "Shema Yisrael". Why is the World to Come almost not mentioned at all in the Tanach? What is Tikun Chatzot about? Rav Kook suggests very beautiful & innovative answers explaining why the son (Israel) & the Father (Hashem) need to both play important & active roles.