Page 28 - HaMizrachi #27 Purim USA 2021

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND RAV KOOK’S TEACHINGS

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

Solidarity and Spirituality

av Kook describes Purim as a extent to which we connect with other each with its own unique lifestyle and
time for powerful spiritual expe- people. approach, began to live together once
Rriences. Throughout the year, again, the need and importance of
our souls are hidden beneath layers of This links to a broader theme in Rav Jewish unity became even more central
our shallower, surface personalities. On Kook’s thought. Throughout his writ- (Ma’amarei HaReiyah, 156).
Purim though, “wine enters, and secrets ings, he argues for the intertwinement
emerge” (Sanhedrin 38a), which Rav of the “vertical” line towards G-d with On the one hand, this new reality cre-
Kook interprets as referring to the rev- the “horizontal” line towards others. For ates a very real danger of discontent and
elation of the usually concealed soul. In example, in one passage he writes that disarray. Each group needs to become
addition, we don masks and costumes to “the soul of individuals is drawn from the accustomed to living alongside Jews of
conceal our surface personalities, cre- Source of the Worlds that exists within different stripes or risk the escalation
ating the space for a focus on our inner the collective; the collective gives the of intra-group quarrelling. Simultane-
and more essential identity – a Divine soul to the individual” (Orot Yisrael 2:3). ously though, this potential pitfall also
soul (Ma’amarei HaReiyah, 153). In other words, G-d’s presence resides presents a tremendous opportunity.
The ingathering of the exiles sets the
Generally, we think of soul revelations most brightly in the collective of the stage for true national unity, the likes of
Jewish people. The only path to access
and spiritual experiences as intensely Divinity is through deep and meaningful which have not been seen in thousands
personal events. Each soul is unique connections with the Jewish people. of years. The creation of the Jewish col-
and therefore one person’s experience lective – not just as an abstract theoret-
is incommensurate with anyone else’s. For Rav Kook, this enmeshment of inter- ical entity but as a real people living side
Accordingly, spirituality is often thought personal unity with our spiritual connec- by side – can make the Divine light shine
Background illustration of Rav Kook courtesy of www.gedolimcanvas.com
of as optimally accessible when set apart tion to G-d is part of the eternal message more brightly in this world. In turn, this
from regular society, such as in a mon- of Purim. It takes on new significance feeling of “amongst my nation I dwell”
astery or an ashram. though, as the Jewish people return to can enhance each Jew’s personal spiri-
the Land of Israel. When we are living tual experiences, on Purim and through-
However, Purim, despite its strong spir- an exilic reality dispersed amongst the
itual qualities, is celebrated in a com- nations, the notion of Jewish unity can, out the year.
munal setting. Large meals, parties and for the most part, only be realized within Let us reveal this Purim Letter with
revelry are part and parcel of the day. the confines of one’s local community. all its wondrousness, which transcends
Similarly, when Rav Kook describes the While in theory Jews always espoused all our meager [human] knowledge.
revelation of the soul which can occur a connection to the nation as a whole, [Let us] declare the power of a unified
on Purim, he highlights that this can this was practically difficult to actualize Jewish people which brings together all
only transpire if one cultivates feelings as they had little or no contact with Jews the strands of G-d’s nation. [This unity]
of community and solidarity with other beyond their land. is the secret of the eternality of the Jewish
Jews. It is only through Esther’s dictum people… When wine enters, secrets
of “Go and gather all the Jews” (Esther In Rav Kook’s time, however, Esther’s emerge (Ma’amarei HaReiyah, 155).
4:16) that “the inner Jewish conscious- call of “Go and gather all of the Jews,”
ness can break through” from its place became a literal imperative. Jews
of concealment (Ma’amarei HaReiyah, left their homes in the Diaspora and Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein is a faculty
154). On Purim, our spiritual connec- returned to the Land of Israel. As Jews member of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerusha-
tion with G-d is dependent upon the from multiple locales and cultures, layim and Yeshiva University.

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