Rabbi Kook

G-d created us with a natural conscience to have pity on the misfortunate, but every midah (trait, but literally: measurement) by definitionת is good when used in the right amount, time & place, but negative when the measurement isn't proper and exact. What is the correct usage and incorrect misusing of our God-given sensitivity, and when should it even be overcome?

Sometimes in life we know that our disagreement or rebuke will go unheeded, nevertheless Rav Kook points out 4 reasons why it's important to voice our opinion.

We believe that God is not only good but perfect, and so is His world. Accordingly, we must deal with the question of the "bad" in the world.

Actions are obviously the most important, but words and even thoughts and intentions are also significant.

Our sages and rabbis until today are careful to mention whom they are quoting, and even say that this brings redemption to the world. On every page in the Talmud we see how exact they are, often even debating which rabbi said a certain idea, and even when there is doubt regarding the author. Apparently this is very important and Rav Kook explains: why?

Three ways of influencing people are through our nature, emotion and intellect, and when to use each approach. Rav Kook reveals here also some autobiographical information about himself.

In an age of "political correctness", we must reassess the Torah commandment of of rebuke, especially when the child, neighbor or secular Israeli national leadership will not heed our admonishment.

Rav Kook was the first of our great rabbis to author an extensive work on vegetarianism. Unfortunately, he is often misquoted on this issue. This is the 2nd part of 2 classes which clarify what Rav Kook actually wrote on this ideal. This class also deals with the specific benefits of many mitzvot.

Rav Kook was the first of our great rabbis to author an extensive work on vegetarianism. Unfortunately, he is often misquoted on this issue. This is the first part of 2 classes which clarify what Rav Kook actually wrote on this ideal.

We all know that even though the Torah already cared about kindness to animals 3,000 years before it's time, yet humans are clearly more important than animals. Accordingly, how can we explain that sometimes being kind to animals even supersedes being kind to people?!