Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir
Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook was the faithful seer and shepherd of the nation during the generation of national rebirth. This coming week, on the 3rd of Elul, 86 years ago, his lofty, illuminating soul ascended on high.
Rav Kook related to the crisis of Jews abandoning religion in our generation, and he dealt with how to unite the nation and bring them closer to their roots, as well as how to forge a direct path through the tangle of relations between the religious and irreligious. He taught that first, we have to delve deeply to clarify Israel’s essence, its strengths, and special points. We have to distinguish between Israel’s having chosen G-d, and Israel’s inherent specialness.
Regarding that specialness, it is an inheritance from the patriarchs and based also on G-d’s having chosen them from all the nations. As it says, “You are children of the L-rd your G-d…. You are a nation consecrated to the L-rd your G-d. G-d has chosen you from all nations on the face of the earth to be His own special nation” (Deuteronomy 14:1-2). Rashi comments, “Your own sanctity extends from your forefathers. In addition, G-d has chosen you.” Moreover, Rav Kook writes, “The living light of G-d burns and shines within every single Jew” (Orot Yisrael 9:6).
As Rebbe Meir said, “‘You are children of the L-rd your G-d’: One way or the other, you are called sons. Even when you are foolish, even when you don't believe; even when you worship idols.” As the Prophet Hoshea said, “Instead of their being told: ‘You are not My people,” they shall be told, ‘You are the children of the living G-d’” (Hoshea 2:1; Kiddushin 36).
By contrast, our choosing G-d depends on our doing good deeds and learning Torah. The situation in this regard can change from generation to generation, and from person to person. Yet it will not change in the least the fact that we are sons of the L-rd our G-d. He chooses us in every place and every time with love, as we say in our prayers, “G-d lovingly chooses His people Israel.”
Today, in our generation, the generation of rebirth, of the footsteps of the Messiah, the power of the specialness of the Jewish people is growing stronger and stronger. More and more, the covenant of the patriarchs is being revealed, and that covenant never ceases. The contents of the prayer, “G-d remembers the patriarchs’ loyalty, and he brings a redeemer to their children's children for the sake of His name, lovingly” is being revealed for all to see, through the ingathering of the exiles, and through the rebuilding of our country, which is developing more and more at great strides.
It is true from the point of view of Israel’s choosing G-d there are some Jews who are blighted by evil deeds and views. Yet they will change and will once more choose goodness, with G-d's help, and there is no good but Torah. As Rav Kook said:
“Loving our fellow Jew is a byproduct of our faith in the divine light of the Jewish people. That light is an inherent characteristic that will never leave the Jewish people. Despite all the vicissitudes of time, it will just become stronger in our midst... Most of all, this lofty love has to be aroused amongst the spiritual elite, at a time when the nation's spiritual level is declining, when everything holy is being trampled and religion is being ridiculed. At this time, that spiritual elite must make every effort to discern that despite everything, Israel's spiritual strengths are still enormous. They must gaze at the inner light that penetrates the spirit of the entire nation. That inner light also abides within every individual Jewish soul openly or in secret, and even in a person who has withdrawn far from G-d's path.” (Orot Yisrael 4:2)
Looking forward to salvation,
With Love of Israel,
Shabbat Shalom,
Chodesh Tov.
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