Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook

The celebrated first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, Rav Kook (1865-1935) is recognized as being among the most important Jewish thinkers of all time. His writings reflect the mystic's search for underlying unity in all aspects of life and the world, and his unique personality similarly united a rare combination of talents and gifts.

Rav Kook was a prominent rabbinical authority and active public leader, but at the same time a deeply religious mystic. He was both Talmudic scholar and poet, original thinker and saintly tzaddik.

Due to Rav Kook's poetic style and abstract thought, his writings are often difficult to understand, even for those fluent in Hebrew and well-versed in traditional Jewish texts. For the English-speaking audience in particular, his books are hidden treasures whose light has not been fully revealed.

On the whole, I have not attempted to translate his works here. Instead, I have taken ideas from his writings and tried to present them in a clear, straightforward fashion. Of course, this method runs the risk of over-simplifying the author's intent. Still, this is a sincere effort that I believe to be faithful to the spirit of the Rav's thought.

May you be inspired by Rav Kook's extraordinary Torah,

Chanan Morrison

Timeline of Rav Kook's life.

Rav Kook's Mission to America

Beit HaRav Museum (Hebrew) and Kollel Beit HaRav

Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehuda Mirsky

Stories from the Land of Israel by Rabbi Chanan Morrison