Emuna

Mankind and the world in general, is constantly undergoing evolution and improvement, trial and error, etc. On the other hand, this seemingly contradicts what our sages teach that the further we get from Mt. Sinai, our level drops lower & lower. Rav Kook, who's Orot HaTeshuva is based on the fact that constant improvement is natural & inevitable, deals here with this apparent difficulty, addressing the necessity of suiting the religious and national leadership with the complex level of each respective generation. Not to underrate their potential, but also not to overrate! A leader's/parent's goal is to give people the vision of their potential. This is a super-important class for rabbis, community leaders and lay-men alike.

"Who is the man who desires life, loves days in which to see [and do] good" (Psalms 34,13). How fortunate we are to be healthy seekers of life, "believers sons of believers," and the descendants of Avraham Avinu, about whom the Torah writes, "He had emuna in G-d" (Genesis 15,6). All of Creation aspires to live life that is meaningful, grounded in a cleaving to the source of life. This is how the living G-d created mankind, imbuing it with this aspiration. As Moshe Rabbeinu made it very clear in his parting speech to the People of Israel: "And you who cleave to Hashem your G-d, you all live today" (Deut. 4,4)

The loss of tzaddikim has an effect on the world. "Save, O Lord - for the pious are gone; for the faithful have vanished from among men" (Psalms 12,2). That is to say, when a righteous man passes away, the world suffers a loss of emuna and trust. Emuna diminishes because tzaddikim help ensure that it remains strong, and when they leave, it becomes weaker. Rav Tzvi Yehuda was a great man of emuna, and his loss left a great vacuum of emuna in the world.

The concept of a Tzaddik (righteous) "decreeing" and God obeying, is in the Talmud & central to Hassidut, but very difficult to understand. There's nobody like Rav Kook to explain this in a rational, modern & spiritual way, how God interacts with Am Yisrael and our leadership, in the most beneficial way! Other important topics discussed here are the types of miracles that God suits to the needs of each generation; stringencies & leniencies. Rav Kook also deals here with his own take on "Rupture & Reconstruction" after modernism, the Haskala/Reform, the great European wars and wandering, the uprooting of Sefaradic Jews from their traditions, and how to patiently return the next generation to Torah, as well as faith in our rabbinic leadership.

The first thing to ascertain in a Jew or a time period where many Jews are far from Judaism, is how far he really is? The number of how many generations of doubt, or how long a person or family has been estranged from Torah is important to know in order to address his/her spiritual needs properly. If one has seen religious practice in his home and is now rebelling, his needs are different than if he just saw his grandfather or neighbor doing mitzvot and himself is oblivious to the topic. In any event, Teshuva must be a gradual process & not be a quick jump to extremes.

As is the case regarding all strong powers in life, questioning and doubt are often called the "Key to knowledge", but as we know, they often can lead to confusion, as well. Rav Kook, explains how to reap the benefits of this topic without having it "boomerang" and be counterproductive. He also offers an innovative way of seeing "Yom Tov Sheini", the 2nd Day of Yom Tov outside of the Land of Israel.