Page 26 - HaMizrachi Purim Australia 5781

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND RAV KOOK’S TEACHINGS

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

Solidarity and

Spirituality

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

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