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THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND RAV KOOK’S TEACHINGS

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

The Jews, The Greeks and

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

hanukah celebrates Jewish rejection, they noted the beauty of In this regard, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,
uniqueness. The Chash- Greek language and expression and zt”l, embodied Rav Kook’s message of
Cmonaim fought against the sought to harness these elements to Chanukah. On the one hand, he had
inroads that Greek religion, culture better understand and teach Torah. 4 a firm conviction in the uniqueness
and wisdom had made amongst the of the Jewish people and of the Torah
Jewish people. In this sense, their On the flipside, Chanukah teaches which he projected in his writings
victory, symbolized by the small but us the value of exporting Torah ideas and talks. Simultaneously, though,
steady flame of the menorah, rep- to the public square. The Talmud he practiced these positive forms of
resents the fact that the eternal light relates that ideally the menorah is to engagement with the outside world
of Torah will outlast all the opposing be placed outside of the house such in an optimal fashion. He was fluent
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outside forces. that it can light up the street. It is in the “Greek” of our day and used his
only when the non-Jews in the thor- knowledge and eloquence to relay the
If taken to the extreme, this message oughfare become antagonistic to the Torah to Jews in a contemporary and
can lead to an isolationist mind- Jewish people and it becomes dan- relevant manner. And he proudly and
set. One can argue that we success- gerous to light outside that we are self-confidently projected the Torah’s
fully fought against the Greeks and allowed to move our menorot indoors. vision into the public square of ideas,
defeated them militarily and spiritu- reaching millions of people across
ally. The spoils of the war are that we Rav Kook explained that the menorah the globe and inspiring them with the
can now lead our ideal Jewish lives as represents the light of Torah. When- Torah’s vision. This Chanukah, may
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“a nation that dwells alone,” interact- ever the non-Jewish world is receptive we too be inspired by the teachings
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ing as little as possible with the world to listening, we have a responsibil- and examples of Rav Kook and Rav
around us. In this telling, the lesson ity to shine the light of Torah on the Sacks.
of Chanukah is to disconnect and dis- issues of the day. We must be con-
engage from other nations in order to fident that “[Torah] is your wisdom
develop the pure spirit of Torah. and understanding in the eyes of the 1 Bamidbar 23:9.
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nations,” and continue to teach and 2 Ein Aya Shabbat 2:12.
By contrast, Rav Kook developed a 3 Ein Aya Shabbat 2:5, 2:13; Orot HaKodesh 2,
more nuanced approach to the issue lead until the Torah’s light impacts page 403.
of engagement with the outside world. even the last straggler in the street. 4 Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 476-477.
Background illustration of Rav Kook courtesy of www.gedolimcanvas.com
Even as he forcefully highlighted the It is only when the non-Jewish public 5 Shabbat 21b.
unique nature of the Jewish people becomes hostile to the Jewish people 6 Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 150-151.
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Devarim 4:6.
and their Torah, his writings on that we reluctantly bring the Torah 8 For similar themes, see Rav Kook’s address at
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Chanukah find space for a positive indoors and it becomes a private light the opening ceremonies of the Hebrew Uni-
engagement with the world around for our community alone. versity (Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 306-308).
us. It is no coincidence that in the Land
This engagement is bidirectional. On of Israel the custom of many Jews
one level, we need to import the best is to light the menorah outdoors.
elements and modes of expression According to Rav Kook, it is when we
from the outside world into Jewish are back in our Land with our own
thought and life. This process can sovereign state that we regain the
bring to the fore certain aspects of self-confidence and opportunity to
the Torah that were hitherto in the proudly espouse the light of Torah to
backdrop and can aid in expressing the world. This is part of the messi-
the timeless Torah values in a con- anic vision in which the nations of the
temporary and compelling fashion. world will look to the Jewish people
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For Rav Kook, this is what Chazal as leaders of spirituality and morality, Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein is a faculty
sought to do with the Greek culture and as models for how to live mean- member of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerusha-
of their time. Instead of a categorical ingful lives. 8 layim and Yeshiva University.

We need a new generation of Jews committed to the dialogue between sacred
44 | and secular if Judaism is to engage with the world and its challenges.
RABBI SACKS