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My Father:

A Spirit of Greatness

Rabbi She’ar Yashuv Cohen zt ”l

Rabbi David Cohen zt”l (1887-1972), known widely as “HaRav HaNazir,” the
“Nazirite Rabbi,” was Rav Kook’s most prominent disciple. A brilliant scholar,
philosopher, kabbalist and mystic, he edited and organized many of
Rav Kook’s writings into Orot HaKodesh, Rav Kook’s magnum opus.
Born into a rabbinic family in the town of Maisiagala, Lithuania,
in 1887, Rav David Cohen exhibited an extraordinary blend of pro-
found expertise in Talmudic studies and an unquenchable thirst
for intellectual exploration, even during his formative years in
yeshiva. Even as a young man, he felt an irresistible attraction to
texts that lay beyond the boundaries of the yeshiva’s prescribed
curriculum.

In his extraordinary biography, he described his resolution,
upon first visiting the Kotel, to rise above his inner turmoil
and unify every aspect of his being for the sake of G-d: “And
here, I sealed a covenant between myself and the G-d of
Israel; there are no words to express that which dwells in
the innermost reaches of my heart and soul. All the deep
philosophical questions have passed over me, and now I feel
so, so close to G-d… a new spirit has descended upon me here,
traces of prophecy at the center of the heart of the Jewish
people, all connected and intertwined in this place.” 1
In this introduction to his father’s commentary on the
Kuzari, Rabbi She’ar Yashuv Cohen zt”l describes his
father’s unique wholeness of spirit and his ability to
unify the many aspects of his life. We are proud to
translate this essay in honor of HaRav HaNazir’s
upcoming yahrzeit on the 28th of Av.

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