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A Unique

Love

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak

HaKohen Kook

On the third of Elul, August 30th, 2022, we will commemorate the 87th yahrzeit of Rabbi
Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt”l. One of the greatest rabbis and thinkers of modern
history, Rav Kook’s influence has grown exponentially since his death in 1935.

In this short commentary, translated from Olat Ra’ayah, his commentary on the siddur,
Rav Kook explains how the supernatural attachment of the people of Israel to the land
fundamentally differs from the relationship other nations have with their lands.

ָ
ָ
. ּ ה ָּב םי ִר ָג ְו ט ַע ְמ ִּכ ר ּ פ ְס ִמ י ֵת ְמ ם ֶכ ְתֹוי ְה ִּב .ם ֶכ ְת ַל ֲח ַנ ל ֶב ֶח ן ַע ָנ ְּכ ץ ֶר ֶא ן ּ ת ֶא ך ְל רמא ֵל
ֵ
ֹ
“Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as your allotted heritage.’ When you were few
in number, a handful, merely sojourning there…” (Divrei Hayamim I 16:18–19)
The holy attachment that the people it. Over the course of centuries, the Knesset Yisrael’s connection to the Land
of Israel have with their Holy Land is people develop a spiritual connection of Israel is unique for we are ּ ה ָּ ב םי ִר ָג ְו,
not comparable to the natural attach- to their land, passing this affection on we dwell in the land in a ‘temporary’
ment that all nations have to their own to their descendents so that it grows way, as if we are strangers. What we
lands. from generation to generation. naturally did to settle and possess the

The natural attachment that other The attachment of the people of Israel land did not create our connection to
nations have to their lands can only to its beloved land is different, for this the land, for our attachment is an eter-
develop over a very long period of time, Divine attachment derives from the nal Divine creation, rooted in the word
through a great number of events. The Source of holiness. The holy seal of of G-d and His holy covenant with us. A
natural way this connection develops our attachment to the land began to law and eternal oath, “He commanded,
is as follows: a large and powerful be expressed ר ָּ פ ְס ִמ י ֵת ְמ ,ם ֶכ ְתֹוי ְה ִּ ב, even and it endured” (Tehillim 33:9). “When
nation enters a particular land with when we “were few in number,” and you were few in number, a handful,
the goal of settling there permanently. ט ַע ְמ ִּ כ, in a very short time, developing merely sojourning there…”
Then, over a long period of time, the immediately upon our arrival in the Olat Ra’ayah, Part 1, p. 203
nation grows accustomed to the land land, and even before we entered the
and develops a historical affection for land.

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