Page 26 - HaMizrachi Tisha bAv 5783 USA

Keeping the Vision Alive:

A Family Member Teaches a New Generation

the Torah of Rav Kook

he teachings of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook have touched the
lives of hundreds of thousands of people, but for Rabbi Dov Kidron, the
connection is deeply personal. “My great-grandfather who I am named for
Twas Rav Dov Kook, Rav Avraham Yitzchak’s younger brother. There were
eight siblings who were born in Europe and gradually made their way to Israel –
they were big Zionists!”
World Mizrachi has partnered with Rav Kidron in an exciting new podcast entitled
Orot MiMizrach, a 12-part series about the Torah of Rav Kook. Rav Kidron is an
experienced Torah teacher, giving two daf yomi classes each day (one in English and
one in Hebrew), but it was a conversation with his brother Nadav that sparked this
new project. “My brother had been living in Boca Raton, Florida, for a few years, and
he told me that while people may recognize the name ‘Rav Kook’ in the Diaspora,
most people do not know much about his Torah or his opinions and philosophy.
Rav Kook was such a giant; it is a tremendous shame for his Torah not to be well
known. And so, together with World Mizrachi, we are excited to produce this series
which will shine a light on this remarkable Torah giant.”
This year will mark the 88th anniversary of Rav Kook’s passing, on the
3rd of Elul, 5695 (1935). “Even though he lived in a different generation,
so many of Rav Kook’s teachings remain relevant and are even more
needed today than in his own lifetime. In the early 20th century, many
people were involved in large movements focused on the collective,
whether Zionism, socialism, or nationalism. Today, in the 21st cen-
tury, the dominant culture and ideology is far more individualistic
and concerned with individual rights, liberties and expressions of
identity. Rav Kook wrote extensively about the klal, the collective
identity and mission of the Jewish people, and particularly in
our times it is crucial for a new generation to learn his ideas
and approach.”
In addition to teaching some of Rav Kook’s big ideas, on topics
such as relations with non-observant Jews, Zionism and univer-
sality, Rav Kidron incorporates anecdotes and vignettes from
Rav Kook’s life that add flavor to the 20-minute podcasts. “My
grandmother would tell us stories about Rav Kook as he was
in the house, coming into the kitchen to ask how he could
help out on Erev Shabbat. In Iggrot Re’aya, the letters of Rav
Kook, there are letters he wrote to my great-grandfather Rav
Dov, in the years when Rav Kook was already in Eretz Yisrael
and Rav Dov was still in Europe.” Rav Dov Kook would later
become the Chief Rabbi of Afula in 1925, as well as the head
of Machon Harry Fishel.
Through this combination of ideas and stories, Orot MiM-
izrach will shine a new light on the remarkable teachings
of Rav Kook. Beginning July 30 (12 Av), make sure to join
World Mizrachi as we embark on a fascinating tour of the
Torah of Rav Kook. You can subscribe and listen to Orot
MiMizrach on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts,
and all your favorite podcast platforms.
26 |