Date and Place: 9 Adar I 5670 (1910), Yafo
Recipient and Background: Rav Meir Lerner, Rabbi of Altona (Germany). Rav Lerner had meant to share a public pronouncement about religious improvement, which Rav Kook did not receive. He also asked Rav Kook about the state and needs regarding Judaism in the “colonies” of Eretz Yisrael. Rav Kook broke issues into sections. We will not elaborate on Rav Kook’s approach on the issues that we have featured in recent weeks.
Body: 4. Tours of the country – From my perspective, I must make “road trips” a few times a year to various places throughout the Yishuv and stay a few days in each moshava, to see how to fix the situation regarding religion and Torah at each place, and how to remove every spiritual pitfall. Every such trip in the Holy Land, which is still, in our great sins, [physically] desolate and does not have railways that make such trips comfortable and inexpensive, requires expending great toil and significant monetary expenditure. This requires a special fund, in order to carry it out in an appropriately dignified enough manner.
5. A yeshiva to train new rabbinic leaders who are fit for the challenges of the time – [This is a topic that has come up several times, and therefore we will not see Rav Kook’s presentation of the matter.]
6. NPO to promote religious growth – In general we should found a special, sacred, large organization for the purpose of and with the name of “… for the Strengthening of Judaism that is Loyal to Hashem and His Torah in the New Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael.” It needs to establish a central office in one of the important cities in the Diaspora. This organization should be the driving force for all of the practical steps that we want to take, with Hashem’s good grace, in order to elevate the stature [of authentic Judaism] in the spirit of Hashem on holy soil.
7. A publication for the NPO – When such an organization will be established, with Hashem’s help, it will undoubtedly require a mode of public expression set aside for its use in whatever language that is most capable of influencing the surroundings in which it will begin to operate and need to show its abilities. However, on this point, there is still time to discuss the matter until the time that at least the significant beginnings of those steps that rightly precede it will take place, based on what we have explained.
With this, I have revealed for your honor a small amount of the matters I think about. I pray that your spirit and heart will be with us, and together we will elevate Hashem’s Name. May Hashem’s light and salvation appear upon us, bringing salvation to His pride, Israel, from Zion, may it happen speedily in our days.
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