Date and Place: 11 Shevat 5670, Yafo
Recipient: Rav Pinchas Hakohen Lintop, the rabbi of a Chassidic community in Lithuania. He had learned Kabbala with Rav Kook when Rav Kook was in Boisk. The two were very deep and like-minded thinkers. We have previously seen a letter between them (#184), written a year earlier.
Body: [Last time, we saw Rav Kook try to alleviate Rav Lintop’s feeling their relationship had cooled. Now we get to a discussion of philosophical matters. In the background, Rav Lintop’s apparently critiqued Rav Kook’s recent article, “Derech Hatechiya.”]
I hope for great, practical miracles, no less than all who look toward Hashem’s salvation. These shall come from Hashem’s Hand to His servants, in the sky, and on the ground, in the seas and pertaining to everything within them. There will be spiritual miracles, finding expression in the kidneys and heart, and all the compartments of the spirit and soul. It will occur on a national and individual basis. From there, it will impact every nation and human being. Even the animals in the fields and forests, the birds, and the crawling creatures, everything with a soul breathed into it, will be included in the miracles. Even the vegetable and inanimate objects will not escape the ripple effect of the great chain of life, as the eternal Hashem reveals His light.
However, in order to improve the world and for all of the miracles to create blessing, so that they are recognized and followed on a paved path, all living things, including humans, especially the nation whose soul is part of Hashem’s revelation, must smooth out the wrinkles of the souls with the power of He Who straightens such things. This is done by the spiritual intellect, which is full of light and heat, and by pure emotions of reliable love for the wondrous nation from which we were hewn and according to the “value” in all directions, which fills the whole world. This is in line with the pasuk, “Like the four directions of the sky I spread you out” (Zecharia 2:10). This connects with the constant deepening of [the people’s] understanding of the divine, His goal, and the way He relates to everything, bringing a person greatness of the soul. Then, his emotions and wisdom are in line with those of the world, and he will not be disturbed if a foreign man of distinction follows a different line of thinking.
The depths of the miracles expose the wellspring of power, which teaches understanding to us and the whole world. Then we recognize that all great thinkers who oppose our way of thinking would have happily changed to ours if they would realize how lofty our storehouse is, filled with great riches and Hashem’s blessing.
I do not wish to be defensive and say that my article, “The Way of the Reawakening” in “Hanir,” will suffice to produce all the spiritual heights I allowed my spirit to touch on. It is not the work of individuals, a generation, or an era to refine all of the intertwined holy visions, which are very entangled when they are limited by entering the difficulties of life.
However, we have never refrained from presenting the essence of historical progressions when they add life to those with wise hearts. Even if they are not fully appreciated, they still encourage those who contemplate them. Considering everything, we cannot withhold writing visions that are presented clearly on a tablet (see Chabakuk 2:2), spelling out every element according to one’s ability to explain that which is expected to transpire beyond what is generally understood even by the choice members of the nation. When speaking in such general terms, we reference the roots of the [spiritual phenomena]. We do not specify one nation vs. another and certainly one person vs. another. When we look at the “Book of Adam,” we can see every generation and its specific spiritual leaders. However, first we must present the basis of the whole wonderful book: Man was created in Hashem’s image. After this is understood, we can deal with the specific names of different people from whom streams of humanity emanated.
We continue next time.
Recipient: Rav Pinchas Hakohen Lintop, the rabbi of a Chassidic community in Lithuania. He had learned Kabbala with Rav Kook when Rav Kook was in Boisk. The two were very deep and like-minded thinkers. We have previously seen a letter between them (#184), written a year earlier.
Body: [Last time, we saw Rav Kook try to alleviate Rav Lintop’s feeling their relationship had cooled. Now we get to a discussion of philosophical matters. In the background, Rav Lintop’s apparently critiqued Rav Kook’s recent article, “Derech Hatechiya.”]
I hope for great, practical miracles, no less than all who look toward Hashem’s salvation. These shall come from Hashem’s Hand to His servants, in the sky, and on the ground, in the seas and pertaining to everything within them. There will be spiritual miracles, finding expression in the kidneys and heart, and all the compartments of the spirit and soul. It will occur on a national and individual basis. From there, it will impact every nation and human being. Even the animals in the fields and forests, the birds, and the crawling creatures, everything with a soul breathed into it, will be included in the miracles. Even the vegetable and inanimate objects will not escape the ripple effect of the great chain of life, as the eternal Hashem reveals His light.
However, in order to improve the world and for all of the miracles to create blessing, so that they are recognized and followed on a paved path, all living things, including humans, especially the nation whose soul is part of Hashem’s revelation, must smooth out the wrinkles of the souls with the power of He Who straightens such things. This is done by the spiritual intellect, which is full of light and heat, and by pure emotions of reliable love for the wondrous nation from which we were hewn and according to the “value” in all directions, which fills the whole world. This is in line with the pasuk, “Like the four directions of the sky I spread you out” (Zecharia 2:10). This connects with the constant deepening of [the people’s] understanding of the divine, His goal, and the way He relates to everything, bringing a person greatness of the soul. Then, his emotions and wisdom are in line with those of the world, and he will not be disturbed if a foreign man of distinction follows a different line of thinking.
The depths of the miracles expose the wellspring of power, which teaches understanding to us and the whole world. Then we recognize that all great thinkers who oppose our way of thinking would have happily changed to ours if they would realize how lofty our storehouse is, filled with great riches and Hashem’s blessing.
I do not wish to be defensive and say that my article, “The Way of the Reawakening” in “Hanir,” will suffice to produce all the spiritual heights I allowed my spirit to touch on. It is not the work of individuals, a generation, or an era to refine all of the intertwined holy visions, which are very entangled when they are limited by entering the difficulties of life.
However, we have never refrained from presenting the essence of historical progressions when they add life to those with wise hearts. Even if they are not fully appreciated, they still encourage those who contemplate them. Considering everything, we cannot withhold writing visions that are presented clearly on a tablet (see Chabakuk 2:2), spelling out every element according to one’s ability to explain that which is expected to transpire beyond what is generally understood even by the choice members of the nation. When speaking in such general terms, we reference the roots of the [spiritual phenomena]. We do not specify one nation vs. another and certainly one person vs. another. When we look at the “Book of Adam,” we can see every generation and its specific spiritual leaders. However, first we must present the basis of the whole wonderful book: Man was created in Hashem’s image. After this is understood, we can deal with the specific names of different people from whom streams of humanity emanated.
We continue next time.
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