— Umah
Nation
“There is the one who sings the song of his own people, they emerge from the circle of the individual self… and cleave with a refined love to the whole Community of Israel”
Rav Kook is the prophet of the rebirth of Israel. In 1905, he wrote of the importance of Medinat Israel-The Nation/State of Israel- as the foundation of God’s presence in the world. This was the first time that these words –Medinat Israel- were expressed in history. The small committee of Ben Gurion and a few others did not know of this writing when they named Medinat Israel in the May 1948 Declaration of Independence.
Rav Kook’s teachings and students created the Religious Zionist population of Israel. Their ongoing participation and influence in the activities and focuses of modern day Israel is of great current significance.
His writings describe extensively the ongoing development of the Jewish people and Judaism into the Nation and Torah of Israel. He guides us to ‘renew the old’ and sanctify the new’. He explains the importance of the full development of the physical and spiritual Israel as a central step in the process of planetary redemption. It is our ultimate national responsibility.
— Song of Israel
There is another who sings the song of his people….and he attaches himself with a gentle love to the whole community of Israel. Together with her he sings her songs.
“A nation is not the highest happiness for a human being”…
Nationalism is not the ultimate form for humanity…
“This can be said about a regular nation that does not rise above the level of a mutual responsibility pact…” Most countries are a shared insurance company and offer little else.
He continues and explains “this is not true with a nation that has ideals at its foundations, a nation in which the highest ideals are stamped into its very being… A nation such as this offers great happiness to the individual. This nation is our nation, Medinat Israel-The State of Israel, the foundation of G-d’s Throne in the world, whose entire desire is that ‘G-d will be One and His Name will be One’ (Zecharia 14:9)”.
The Settlement in Israel will develop; the national home will be built. Out of it will blow a mighty spirit. The soul of the nation will be reawakened. From the depth of its nature, it will recognize its essence. With mighty strength, it will establish its life-patterns: the special spirit of the nation will establish the faith of the Lord, God of Israel in the world, and it goes without saying, within her own midst…the inner power will break forth as a volcano and Israelite life, by both inner necessity and free consciousness, will assume its authentic form. That natural form will bring the Great Return; the return of love without materialist faltering; an inner return flowing from the depth of truth that is in the luminous life of the soul. One need not be pained at all on account of the gushing streams of the natural national spirit; even the mistakes made along the way, in the end will contribute to building and repairing.
Orot-Lights of Renewal-Ch. 31 (written in Yaffo. 1912-1914)

In Honor Of Shavuot: Rav Kook On Why The Creator Spoke To Israel
“Knesset Yisrael/The Community of Israel aspires to the tikkun/repair of the world in all its fullness.”
RAV KOOK ON JERUSALEM AS THE GATEWAY TO EDEN:
“Yerushalayim, and Zion in particular, is a teaching about the return of humankind to its highest status -to the point that all the nations who divided into many streams in the past will return to form one pure and good unit”. -Rav Kook, TZ”L
RAV KOOK IN HONOR OF YOM HA’ATZMAUT: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATION STATE OF ISRAEL
“Our state, the State of Israel, is the foundation of God’s throne in the world- her whole desire is that God will be one and God’s Name one.” -Rav Kook
?מה רב קוק זצ”ל היה אומר למדינת ישראל היום
קטעים מאורות התחיה -פרק יז-יח: המקור -קובץ ג:א,ב - נכתב ביפו בתרע"ד/1914 ,אנחנו שואפים לתחית האומה ותחית הארץ, כדי להחיות את מעמד הנשמה שלנו" כדי להעמיד את ישראל חי, להחיות את האמונה והאהבה בחוסן של התורה והמצוה בכל מילואן.… אנו דורשים לציון, אנו משתוקקים...
PESACH FREEDOM AND LIBERATION
“The foundational essence of freedom is that elevated spirit by which a human being and a nation rises to be loyal to their inner being-to the Tzelem Elokim-The Divine Image within.”
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