Rabbi Avraham HaCohen Kook

Bechukotai: Why Exile?

Israel's first Chief Rabbi and advocate for returning to the Land, on the anguished question: Why should the Jewish people be in exile?

'The People shall rise up like Lions' - Lag Ba'Omer and Rav Kook

The incredible wonder of Lag Ba’Omer in Israel, where the revival of the Jewish Nation in Israel is a wonder that is impossible to explain.

Firsthand memories of Rabbi Kook

Rabbi Greenblatt passed away last week, after almost 100 years in which he was able to study, teach and share his memories of Rav Kook.

The Ingathering and Medinat Yisrael

In 1907, decades before the Holocaust, Rabbi Kook called out to the entire House of Israel with a plea:to come to Eretz Yisrael. Op-ed.

Rav Kook on Yom Ha'atzmaut: The drama of the Balfour Declaration

Rav Kook, in England, fought the letter written by Jewish leaders against a Jewish state - and won.

Kedoshim: Admonish your neighbor

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: Not remonstrating wtih someone doing something wrong shows that instrinsically, you do not really object..

Matza of love

Israel's first chief rabbi: In the Torah, the Jews were told to eat matza two weeks before Pesach, so what is the real reason we eat matza?

Passover: The Hillel Sandwich

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: If we know the significance of matza and maror, we will understand Hillel's way of eating them.

Metzora: The Power of Speech

Israel's firrst Chief Rabbi and iconic leader of religious Zionism: Why do only Jews get tzora'at? What are the two levels of speech?

"Tevel” – the Land of Israel is affected by everything and so are its people

Young Israeli Torah scholars: Rabbi Kook z”tl writes that wars raging anywhere in the world influence Am Yisrael.

Psalm 24: Climbing and Standing

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi: We aspire to attain higher levels, to ascend God’s mountain. And we stop to stand still and internalize His laws.

Tazria: Man versus Mosquito

Israel's first Chief Rabbi and the iconic leader of Religious Zionism: What comes first in value - quantity or quality?

Rabbi Kook was no liberal pacifist about war

In the midst of WWI when the nations were engaged in a savage outburst of killing and destruction, Rav Kook penned prophetic words.

Rabbi - How should we relate to the people in the war zone in Ukraine?

As Torah-true Jews, should we ignore it or pray for those in the war zone, feel vindicated because of their history, or actively help them?

Rabbi: How should we relate to people in Ukraine's war zone?

Rav Kook on Vayikra: Black Fire on White Fire

Israel's first Chief Rabbi and the iconic leader of Religious Zionism: What was the nature of the Divine call to Moshe?

Rosh Chodesh: Our Prayers for the New Month

Israel's first Chief Rabbi and iconic leader of Religious Zionism explains the prayer for the New Month.

Vayakhel: Technology and the Sabbath

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: Our progress in science and technology is also part of creation.

The religious value of national Independence

Jewish independence in Eretz Yisrael ushers in the Messianic era.

New photograph of Rabbi Kook unveiled

Rabbi Kook museum publishes photograph of Rabbi Kook with mayor of Chicago from rabbinical delegation to the US in 1924.

Yitro: Blessings on Miracles

Israel's first Cheif Rabbi: 'A blessing for a miracle must include recognition of the benefits of the miracle’s accompanying details.'

Beshalach: Innate and acquired holiness

“Until Your people have crossed, O God; until the people that You acquired have crossed over.”- why is the crossing mentioned twice?

Bo: The Exodus and Tefillin

Rabbi Kook:We bind these memories of G-d's role in history to our hand, heart, and mind, and transform our coarse nature to a holy one.'

Va'eira: God's Name

Israel's first chief rabbi, Torah luminary and iconic leader of Religious Zionism: The Names of G-d are connected to living in Eretz Yisrael

Shemot: Moses hid his face

Did Moses' covering his face reflect awe or unwarranted timidity?

Vayigash: The first Exile

The Jewish people have spent more years in exile than in their own land. Why?

Hannukah: Flickering lights in dark times

The special rules of Hannukah lights parallel the Maccabean struggle against the Greeks but also how Judaism meets foreign philosophies.

Vayeshev: The reality of dreams

Berachot 55a: “Even if most of a dream comes true, not all of it will come to pass.”

Vayishlach: The service of pillars and altars

One rock or many stones?.What typifies the Jewish people? What makes them a klal?

Psalm 34: Freeing ourselves from bad habits

First, we must learn to identify ourselves as servants of God.

Toldot: Harnessing the power of Esau

Jacob held on to Esau’s heel holding him back. The name Jacob refers to this aspect of restraint, reining in fierce forces of our nature.

Vayeira: The journey to Moriah

Rabbi Kook shows how the text hints at Abraham’s remarkable strength and composure as he readied himself to fulfill God’s command.

Psalm 140: The Tzaddik and the Yashar

The difference between them concerns their atitude to contributing to the world's progress as well as to its spiritual level.

The Sabbath Influence

The very fact that the Sabbath is able to influence the days of work reveals the soul’s innate closeness to God.

Breishit: Letters of Creation

Why the Torah begins with the letter bet and not aleph has a meaning connected with the nature of light.

All of Israel in One Sukkah

Now, after the High Holydays, we can attain a comprehensive unity, one that extends its holy light over all. Op-ed.

How to be happy on Sukkot during these crazy times

If I get punished, I want it to be for the sin of focusing too much on the good that Hashem has given us. Op-ed.

The dual call of the Shofar

Why do we need two sets of shofar blasts?

Nitzavim: Dances of teshuvah in Poriah

Many of those present cherished the memory of that winter night when young secular pioneers sang and danced with the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa.

Ki Tavo: The Splendor of Tefillin

Tefillin, containing passages from the Torah mentioning God’s Name, are a visible sign for others that “God’s Name is called upon you."

Ki Tetze: Advice to a troubled father

We should never give up on a single Jewish soul. “A myrtle among the reeds is still a myrtle and is called a myrtle“ (Sanhedrin 44a).