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Messages from

Rav Kook’s Letter

Rabbi Chanan Morrison

grief-stricken father turned repair societal inequalities and address If you successfully awaken a love of the
to Rav Kook for advice. political injustice. Their yearnings for Jewish people in their hearts, this will
He was a rabbi and Torah justice and kindness are rooted in “the spark feelings of faith and holy aspi-
A scholar, yet his children had inner soul of Israel’s holiness hidden rations. And it may eventually lead to
abandoned religious life. What should within their hearts.” They have been complete teshuvah.
he do? How should he respond to this led astray, not because of hedonist pas-
betrayal of his values and lifestyle? sions, but because they seek integrity 5. Their teshuvah will
Should he cut off all ties from them and and goodness. If we don’t push them
sit shiva over their lost souls? Should away but do our best to draw them be motivated by the
he argue with them and rebuke them? back, they will be ready to return to intellect, not emotions
In a series of letters, Rav Kook consoled Judaism. Rav Kook’s final observation: our chil-
the father and offered some practical dren left Judaism due to mistakes of the
suggestions. intellect; they think that this way, they
can do greater good in the world. Their
1. Don’t reject them return to Judaism will not be spurred
If we don’t push them away but do by impassioned fire and brimstone
The first and most important principle our best to draw them back, they speeches but by an intellectual recal-
is not to break off contact. Rav Kook culation. “We need not picture their
was adamant that the father should not will be ready to return to Judaism. return as repentance accompanied by
sever his connection with his children, a terrible anguish and the fear of utter
despite their rejection of their religious collapse, like the common perception
upbringing. “I understand well your 3. Support them financially of ordinary teshuvah. Rather, it will be a
heartache and grief,” he wrote. “But if
you think, like most Torah scholars do, Practically speaking, Rav Kook advised simple reassessment, like a person who
corrects a mistake in arithmetic after
that in our times it is fitting to reject the father “to assist them, as much as
those children who have left the path you are able, toward their livelihood clarifying the numbers.”
of Torah and faith due to the turbu- and pressing needs.” It is not easy to To summarize:
lent currents of the era – then I say, financially support children who have
unequivocally, this is not the way that rejected your way of life. But this will 1. Keep a connection with your
G-d desires.” maintain your connection with them children.
and “provide an opportunity to express
We should never give up on a single words of mussar, chosen judiciously, in 2. Recognize their positive qualities
Jewish soul. “A myrtle among the reeds your letters. It is in the nature of words and good – if misguided – motives.
is still a myrtle and is called a myrtle.” that come from the heart to have an 3. Continue to support them finan-
(Sanhedrin 44a).
impact, whether much or little.” cially, as this concretizes your link
to them.
2. Appreciate their motives 4. Encourage them to stay 4. Encourage them to stay connected
Rav Kook’s second point was that we connected to their people to the Jewish people.
must accurately judge the new gen-
eration and appreciate their motives. Rav Kook further advised the father 5. They will return to Judaism, not
In these turbulent times of social to remind his children of their Jewish through emotional pleas and
movements and uprisings, our sons heritage. Counsel them not to abandon feelings of guilt, but when they
and daughters who have abandoned their people due to false dreams that reassess their educated decisions.
Judaism should be viewed as acting they will gain a secure place of honor  Based on Iggerot HaRe’iyah, Vol. I, Letter 138.
under duress. “G-d forbid that we and respect among the nations of the
should judge them as having rebelled world. “They befriend you when it
willfully.” They are motivated, not by serves them, but in times of trouble, Rabbi Chanan Morrison is the author of
selfish desires but by aspirations to they will rejoice in your downfall.” several books on Rav Kook’s writings.

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