A Soulful Journey

“The whole goal of our learning is to remove the obstacles from our becoming more loving human beings.” - Rav Kook,  Orot HaKodesh  IV, 389, 39 The task is ongoing.

"As we were walking, I plucked some flower or plant.  Rabbi Kook [then Chief Rabbi of Israel] trembled and told me that he took great care not to pluck anything unless it was for a benefit.  Anything that could grow...there was no plant below that did not have a guardian above.  Everything that grew said something, every stone whispered some secret, all creation sang."  - Arye Levine

 כשם שצריך לפייס את חברו כך צריך לסלוח לעצמו Just as a person is obliged to mollify his friend, he is also commanded to forgive himself. Writes our teacher, Rav Kook: when a person engages in teshuvah out of love, it becomes necessary that he also forgive himself for his sins just as he relinquishes his holding onto the sins of others where one person has wronged another.  Once he has engaged in this process he becomes pure, free of sin, and the Holy One converts those past sins into merit.

Every person must know and understand that in the depths of each being there burns a candle, and one person's candle is not at all like another's candle. And there is absolutely no one that has no candle. Every person must know and understand that he or she must work to reveal the   candle’s light publicly and light that candle as a great torch that will give light to the entire world. -Rav Kook

Rav Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of Israel, was once passing a restaurant ad saw some kibbutzniks sitting and eating trafe , unkosher food.   He remarked, " l’tayavon ” (Good appetite). “Why did you say that to them?   Shouldn’t you chastise them for eating trafe?” asked a student. “It is better they should eat the treif for its own sake rather than out of spite,” he replied.   -Louis Jacobs What can we learn from not being unyielding like Rav Kook?

Nathan Strauss, the great philanthropist, once was approached by Rav Kook for a donation.  “Why do you always come to me?” Strauss asked.  “There are so many millionaires in America.” Rav Kook replied, “I will tell you a story.  A prince was once lost in a forest for many hours.  Finally, he came to an inn where he was immediately recognized.  He ordered a light meal of fried eggs. When he finished, the prince asked, “What do I owe you?” The reply, “Twenty-five dollars.” “Why such an exorbitant price?  Is there a shortage of eggs in this area?” “No, there is no shortage of eggs.  We have plenty of eggs.  But there is a shortage of princes.” –Rabbi Abraham Besdin Everyone must carry their share.