— Blog
Haorot Blog Articles
Self
Know Yourself
From his own inner tendencies,
a person must come to know what he content he must actualize [in the world].
And let him always be happy with his portion in life, and embrace it energetically.
Returning to Your True Self
When we forget our personal soul,
when we distract our mind away from looking into the inner life of the unique self,
everything becomes blurry and uncertain.
Nation
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 PARSHAT VAYAKHEL: WE MUST BUILD A 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
“IN COMES THE WINE, OUT COME THE SECRETS”
“Wine enters, and secrets emerge” (Eiruvin 65a). In our generation, we very much need our inner secrets to come out and be revealed. Through this revelation, we will discover that which is hidden in our souls and learn to recognize our true selves.”
RAV KOOK’S 1934 PURIM LETTER:”GO GATHER ALL THE JEWS”
“The eternal words ‘Go, gather all the Jews’ must once again revitalize and elevate us. In the final analysis, we are, and shall be one nation, and Israel shall once again rise to the eternal words ‘Go, gather all the Jews’.”- 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
RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAWFULLY
“These are the laws of the higher moral Torah that is engaged in the quest for universal good.” Rav Kook ZT’L
Humanity
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION
“The descendants of Yaakov Avinu must help humankind emerge from terrible spiritual and physical suffering and to bring it to a life of freedom full of splendor and bliss.”
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.”
Existence
Radiant is the World Soul
The higher expression of tshuva comes about as a flash of illumination of the all-good, the divine, the light of the One who abides in eternity. The universal soul, the spiritual essence is revealed to us in all its majesty and holiness, to the extent that the human heart can absorb it.
A Summons to Higher Contemplation
Contemplate the wonders of creation, the divine dimension of their being, not as a dim configuration that is presented to you from the distance but as the reality in which you live.
Teshuva Emerges From the Depths of Being
Teshuva Emerges From the Depths of Being “Teshuva emerges from the depths of being, from such great depths in which the individual stands not as a separate entity, but rather as a continuation of the vastness of universal existence
The 5 Foundations of Existence
Rav Kook’s primary student, HaRav David Cohen-HaRav HaNazir -after many years of deep immersion in Rav Kook’s writings- explained that Rav Kook’s understanding and presentation of existence is based on 5 foundational principles.
Parshat Hashavua – Weekly TOrah Portion
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT YITRO: BECOMING A HOLY NATION BY ESTABLISHING A HOLY GOVERNMENT
“We are obligated not only to be holy individuals, but also, and especially to be ‘a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’. We should aspire to establish a government worthy of the task.” -Rav Kook ZT’L
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYECHI-WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THESE END OF DAYS?
“We are called to a new future, full of the highest illumination, to a new era that will surpass in strength all the great eras that preceded it.”
RAVKOOK ON PARSHAT VAYESHEV: THE DIVINE COINCIDENCES THAT MOVE HISTORY TO ABSOLUTE GOOD
“We must recognize that even the most distant and seemingly unrelated actions and events are part of the precise-Divine Providence bringing existence to its highest good.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU
“The brotherly love of Esau and Yaakov and of Yitzchak and Ishmael will overcome all the disturbances and transform them to eternal light and compassion.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION
“The descendants of Yaakov Avinu must help humankind emerge from terrible spiritual and physical suffering and to bring it to a life of freedom full of splendor and bliss.”
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
Holy Days
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
“IN COMES THE WINE, OUT COME THE SECRETS”
“Wine enters, and secrets emerge” (Eiruvin 65a). In our generation, we very much need our inner secrets to come out and be revealed. Through this revelation, we will discover that which is hidden in our souls and learn to recognize our true selves.”
RAV KOOK’S 1934 PURIM LETTER:”GO GATHER ALL THE JEWS”
“The eternal words ‘Go, gather all the Jews’ must once again revitalize and elevate us. In the final analysis, we are, and shall be one nation, and Israel shall once again rise to the eternal words ‘Go, gather all the Jews’.”- Rav Kook
RAV KOOK ON CHANUKAH: KINDLING THE INDIVIDUAL AND UNIVERSAL LIGHT
“Each of us is required to kindle our unique light in order to help fully illuminate the world.”
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/History
RAVKOOK ON PARSHAT VAYESHEV: THE DIVINE COINCIDENCES THAT MOVE HISTORY TO ABSOLUTE GOOD
“We must recognize that even the most distant and seemingly unrelated actions and events are part of the precise-Divine Providence bringing existence to its highest good.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU
“The brotherly love of Esau and Yaakov and of Yitzchak and Ishmael will overcome all the disturbances and transform them to eternal light and compassion.”
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION
“The descendants of Yaakov Avinu must help humankind emerge from terrible spiritual and physical suffering and to bring it to a life of freedom full of splendor and bliss.”
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
