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Haorot Blog Articles
Self
OUR FREEDOM AND THE BURNING OF CHAMETZ
“Intrinsic freedom is that exalted spirit by which a person- as well as the nation as a whole- is inspired to remain faithful to their inner essence, to the spiritual attribute of the Divine image within. It is that attribute which enables one to feel that their life has purpose and value.” – Rav Kook
RAV KOOK ON VAYAKHEL: BUILDING THE TEMPLE OF GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS
“The holy temple must be built in our inner spirit every day through thoughts and acts of kindness and compassion. We need to know that when the longing to be good to all is intensified in us an illumination from the higher realm has reached us.” -Rav Kook ZT’L
RAV KOOK’S ILLUMINATED GUIDE TO ENLIGHTENMENT: Step 2-BECOME A UNIVERSALIST
“We must raise our thought and will and basic preoccupations towards universality, to the inclusion of all, to the whole world, to the collective of Israel, to all existence.” -Rav Kook
RAV KOOK’S ILLUMINATED GUIDE TO ENLIGHTENMENT: Step 1- A CALL TO HIGHER CONTEMPLATION
“Ascend toward the heights, because you are of mighty prowess, you have wings to soar with, wings of mighty eagles.” -Rav Kook
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TRUMA: HOW TO LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DIVINE SHECHINA
“Ascend towards the heights, ascend. You are of mighty prowess, you have wings to soar with, wings of mighty eagles. Do not fail them, lest they fail you; seek for them and they will be immediately ready for you.” -Rav Kook
The Inner Spark
The inner essence of the soul, which reflects, which lives the true spiritual life, must have absolute inner freedom. It experiences its freedom, which is life, through its originality in thought, which is its inner spark that can be fanned to a flame through study and concentration.
Nation
RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL
“The children of Avraham must give voice to the the vast realm of the divine calling to existence to become illuminated.” Rav Kook ZT’L
RAV KOOK ON YOM HAKIPPURIM:THE DAY OF AT-ONE-MENT
“On the holy day of Yom HaKippurim- we eat and drink from our holy inner voices of understanding.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT SHOFTIM: HOW TO CREATE A DIVINE SOCIETY
“The true purpose of societal life is to enable human beings to fill life with light and good, with justice and knowledge of the Divine.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT RE’EH:HOW TO BE BLESSEDLY HAPPY
“We can thus fully actualize the exalted ideals of life.
The Torah of Israel is outstanding in crystallizing the idealism that will spread across all of the configurations of life.” (Rav Kook)
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT EKEV: HOW TO FEAR HASHEM FEARLESSLY
“Let us fear God in ways that bear love and inner delight and elevate and vitalize all the potentialities of our soul.” -Rav Kook
PARSHAT VAETCHANAN: RAV KOOK ON ‘UNITING EXISTENCE’
“All of life’s endeavors must be directed to disclose the light of the higher general harmony.”
Humanity
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
“We must bring humankind out of its physical and spiritual suffering to a life of freedom full of splendor and delight.”
RAV KOOK ON NOACH: HOW TO BE A COMPLETE TZADIK IN OUR GENERATION
“Noach was the complete tzadik of his generation because he fully integrated his emotions and intellect and was thus able to walk with Elohim.”
RAV KOOK ON BREISHIT: BEGINNING NOW AND AGAIN AND BETTER THAN EVER
“The Torah of Israel clarifies how the state of the world and human ethics are dependent on each other. It is clear that the improvement of the world is dependent on ethical improvement. This is the essence of the Israelite understanding of the Creator. ”
THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK: SUKKOT JOY AND UNIVERSALITY
“The firmer our vision of universality- the greater the joy we will experience and the more we merit the grace of divine illumination.”
RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL
“As the year is renewed the power of renewal elevates the human will and adds holiness to all.”
RAV KOOK ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF HUMANKIND AND THE ENVIRONMENT
“We must recognize our covenant with the stones and animals of the field”
Existence
RAV KOOK ON BREISHIT: BEGINNING NOW AND AGAIN AND BETTER THAN EVER
“The Torah of Israel clarifies how the state of the world and human ethics are dependent on each other. It is clear that the improvement of the world is dependent on ethical improvement. This is the essence of the Israelite understanding of the Creator. ”
RAV KOOK ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF HUMANKIND AND THE ENVIRONMENT
“We must recognize our covenant with the stones and animals of the field”
TU BE’AV- FIFTEENTH OF AV-THE HOLY DAY OF LOVE : Torat HaKabbala and Torat HaRav Kook
Rav Kook gave expression to the Torah of Love transforming from the the Torah of Yirah-Awe/Fear that characterized the Torah during our long exile from Israel.
WHAT RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: Step 1- OBEY THE LAWS OF NATURE
“We must act in harmony with the laws of life and protect the laws of nature, morality and the Torah. Thus we will repair and renew life’s vitality.”
RAV KOOK ON TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE EXISTENCE
“We must kindle and shine the light of eternal freedom and loving unification for all existence.” -Rav Kook
The Power of Complete Fulfillment
The newest power that will be revealed in the world that will renew life with complete liberation is the great impact of the human will on the entire creation when it comes to its complete fulfillment.
Parshat Hashavua – Weekly TOrah Portion
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH: BECOMING HEROES OF KINDNESS
“We must become powerfully heroic forces to ensure that kindness rules the world.” Rav Kook TZ’L
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
“We must bring humankind out of its physical and spiritual suffering to a life of freedom full of splendor and delight.”
RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL
“The children of Avraham must give voice to the the vast realm of the divine calling to existence to become illuminated.” Rav Kook ZT’L
RAV KOOK ON NOACH: HOW TO BE A COMPLETE TZADIK IN OUR GENERATION
“Noach was the complete tzadik of his generation because he fully integrated his emotions and intellect and was thus able to walk with Elohim.”
RAV KOOK ON BREISHIT: BEGINNING NOW AND AGAIN AND BETTER THAN EVER
“The Torah of Israel clarifies how the state of the world and human ethics are dependent on each other. It is clear that the improvement of the world is dependent on ethical improvement. This is the essence of the Israelite understanding of the Creator. ”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT KI TAVO: CREATING A WORLD ‘FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY’
“The highest sensibility in the soul of the people of Israel is the quest for universal justice and morality.”
Holy Days
THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK: SUKKOT JOY AND UNIVERSALITY
“The firmer our vision of universality- the greater the joy we will experience and the more we merit the grace of divine illumination.”
RAV KOOK ON YOM HAKIPPURIM:THE DAY OF AT-ONE-MENT
“On the holy day of Yom HaKippurim- we eat and drink from our holy inner voices of understanding.”
RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL
“As the year is renewed the power of renewal elevates the human will and adds holiness to all.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT KI TAVO: CREATING A WORLD ‘FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY’
“The highest sensibility in the soul of the people of Israel is the quest for universal justice and morality.”
RAV KOOK ON ‘TSHUVA/RETURN’:HARNESSING THE LIMITLESS POWER OF THE WILL FOR GOOD
“Within our yearning for good is a hidden life-force for overcoming every factor that limits and weakens existence.”
RAV KOOK ON ELUL- ‘TSHUVA-RETURNING TO OUR TRUE BEING ‘
“Within our yearning for Tshuva is a hidden life-force for overcoming every factor that limits and weakens existence.”
Rav Kook/History
SHIR HASHIRIM ASHER LE’SHLOMO: RAV KOOK AND RABBI SHLOMO CARLEBACH:
“Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach was perhaps the most profound exemplar of Rav Kook’s teachings in our time.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
“We must bring humankind out of its physical and spiritual suffering to a life of freedom full of splendor and delight.”
RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL
“The children of Avraham must give voice to the the vast realm of the divine calling to existence to become illuminated.” Rav Kook ZT’L
RAV KOOK ON NOACH: HOW TO BE A COMPLETE TZADIK IN OUR GENERATION
“Noach was the complete tzadik of his generation because he fully integrated his emotions and intellect and was thus able to walk with Elohim.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RAV KOOK: THE POETIC MASTER OF LIGHT ZT”L
“To raise ourselves beyond the divisions For the greatness of the nation To expand our consciousness As broad as the ocean.”
RAV KOOK ON ELUL- ‘TSHUVA-RETURNING TO OUR TRUE BEING ‘
“Within our yearning for Tshuva is a hidden life-force for overcoming every factor that limits and weakens existence.”
