Just as fights exist between religious Zionists, they exist among the Zealots. Judaism is destroying itself. Maggid Books in Israel has reprinted the original 1920 version of the classical mystical book Orot, “Lights,” by the famous Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook. The 2023 publication appears in its original Hebrew with a preface, introduction, translation, and notes by Bezalel Naor. Naor’s preface and introduction are extensive, with over 70 informative pages. He describes Rabbi Kook’s thinking and writing and how fellow pious rabbis criticized him and made his life miserable. The book is interesting.
- Rabbi Kook was born in Latvia in 1865 and died in Jerusalem in 1935.
- He was a right-wing Orthodox rabbi and the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine. Although very conservative, he had some modern ideas which brought violent criticism from other right-wing rabbis. His current views made him one of the fathers of religious Zionism.
- Like his fellow zealots, his “message was that there is danger inherent in secular studies, which is a cause for concern, and …there must arise in Jerusalem a world-class yeshiva concentrated to sacred studies.” He created one.
- He appeared in “the old mold: by outer appearance, dressed in traditional garb – fur hat, satin coat, long beard, and payot (side curls).”
- He felt that prophecy could only exist in the land of Israel.
- He extolled mysticism.
- Yet, he extended a hand to sinners, whom his adversaries shunned. He compared the zealots who separated from those who were not religious to the people of Amalek who attacked the stragglers at the end of the Israelite camp when they left Egypt. He wrote that the righteous need “to discover a light of holiness in all the languages and wisdoms of the world.”
- He insisted, “Just as wine cannot be without dregs, so the world cannot be without wicked people.” Even atheists have a positive function. They rid monotheism of the idea of corporeality. While Haredi Jews hated Zionism, he saw value in it. Every human must be respected.
- He encouraged people to perform physical exercise and enraged his colleagues, who insisted they should sit and read the Talmud.
- Despite repeated harassment, he never reciprocated. And despite his mystic and ultra-conservative views, he is remembered with respect.
He insisted, “Just as wine cannot be without dregs, so the world cannot be without wicked people.” Even atheists have a positive function. They rid monotheism of the idea of corporeality.
What does this mean Rav? I am not sure what Kook meant by this
Good question. People ask, why is there evil in this world and why are there evil people. Rabbi Kook answered the second question. He was saying, there is much we do not know about God. But we can assume that God created a good world. One of the good things about atheists, for example, is that we can learn from them that God has no body and is totally unlike humans. Maimonides, as you know, said the truth is the truth no matter what its source, and we can and should learn from everybody.
Rav,
I disagree with you.
I believe in a “Heaven” or “Hell”
Reward and punishment.
But, my conception is that God has infinite knowledge meaning he knows exactly the nano second and thoughts of how people think before they commit an action such as rape, murder, getting a glass of water.
God must weigh the scales of Justice before allowing people get justice.
For instance, if someone gets raped by a good criminal or a Torah scholar who is corrupted who understand the law and how the court of systems work. he can get away with it pretty easily; which i interpet as God “failing” to allow justice in the world. Which is why i personally believe that God has a court system in the afterlife if God just allows rape in this world and allows a single rape to occured without punishment i don’t believe he is just.
You may be right and I may be wrong. This is ok. What is important is that we respect one another and treat each other with respect.
I agree with you that God does not cause every leaf to fall. God created the laws of nature that control leaves. Albert Einstein agreed. He said: “I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws.”
Yes, as usual, we agree. In the parable that I invented, I attributed a gross action to God which I do not think God would do and suggested that the man would end up in Hell, which I also do not believe exists.
Thanks.
I am a fan of Rav Kook. Rabbi Kook called himself a mystic-rationalist. For example, Kook said that in the messianic age, we will no longer bring sacrifices. This is also the view of Maimonides.
Rav Kook said that revelation did not cease; it is ongoing. God is even revealed in nature. He said: “You know the teaching of our Sages that not a single blade of grass grows here on earth that doesn’t have an angel above it, commanding it to grow. Every sprout and leaf of grass says something meaningful; every stone whispers some hidden message in the silence; every creation utters its song…”
I agree with what Kook said about atheists. Do you have a source or quote where he said that even atheists have good points?
Rational thinkers can agree with many things Rav Kook said, but not his and Nachmanides’ view that God causes every leaf to fall. God created or formed the laws of nature which control leaves.