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The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook
Rav Kook (1865-1935) was one of the most influential thinkers in Jewish history, but his revolutionary writings are mostly unknown to the general public. This book contains many new and accessible translations, as well as an in-depth spiritual biography. Each chapter is introduced and broken up into a variety of topics, including the individual, Torah, God, teshuvah , prayer, creativity, Zionism, science, and vegetarianism.
- GenresJewishJudaismNonfiction
287 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 12, 2018
Even rationalists like me can read, enjoy, and learn from the writings of mystics. We do not have to accept everything they say as being true, but there are things they say which are true.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook was born in Latvia in 1865 and died in Jerusalem in 1935. His father was a Mitnagid, opposed to mysticism. His mother was a descendant of Chabad, a Chasidic group. When asked “What will you be?” he answered “I will be both.” In 1920, at the age of fifty-five, he moved to Jerusalem and became its chief rabbi.
Rabbi Kook’s writings are generally, but not always very mystical and difficult to understand. However, Rabbi Ari Ze’ev Schwartz’s book “The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook” unravels the writings with a new translation, with each chapter being divided into clearly stated topic headings added by Rabbi Schwartz, such as the individual, Torah, God, teshuvah, prayer, creativity, Zionism, science, and vegetarianism. Rabbi Schwartz also introduces each section with a clear explanation of what Rabbi Kook is saying.
Rabbi Kook became chief rabbi long before the State of Israel was reestablished in 1948. He lived during a period when the vast majority of pioneers who sacrificed their lives and came to Israel and faced difficulties in their attempts to build up the land of Israel were irreligious Jews, often men and women who were antagonistic to religion. He is properly credited and even commended for working to draw all people close, even those who rebelled against religion. He taught that each person should want to influence friends and be influenced by them for the increase of the greater good. It is through the combining of different talents within each individual that a society is formed. He also taught that everyone should find a personal Torah and realize that there is not just one type of Torah, but an endless variety that can speak to countless individuals in different ways.
The following are some other of Rabbi Kook’s ideas:
The highest type of thinking is never reject any idea in the world. No one has a monopoly on truth. There is truth in other religions.
Secular knowledge is important. We must teach our children what is necessary for them to know how to confront the trials of life.
I walk around with an overwhelming jealousy of the secular world. It is a jealousy that consumes me. For is it really possible that the power of creativity has ceased within the religious world?
Atheists may be on the right tract. They may be denying an immature and distorted image of God. In other words, their denial of God is really a deeper quest for a higher, more sophisticated understanding. Atheism comes to purify the dirt, the embarrassments, that have stuck to a religion that lacks any comprehension. Religious people should understand this, and pay attention to what is bothering them.
One should not only study a religious text to receive a new idea; it should serve as a tool toward understanding oneself.
The role of an author of any book is to begin the discussion of an idea, yet it is the reader’s responsibility to respond by searching for their own personal meaning.
The ideal perfection of a person can only be accomplished by focusing one’s energy on improving one’s own individual self as much as possible. Yet at the same time a person should keep in mind that one’s own individual perfection will never be completed until the Jewish people have successfully reached national perfection.
People should realize that being totally perfect is unattainable and should understand that a person’s true greatness is found in the journey of constantly striving to become a little better.
More than asking God to forgive our misdeeds, we should learn to forgive ourselves and work to assure we do not repeat our mistakes.
Personal growth requires us to first clarify what is the character trait we want to assume, and only after knowing this try to embody it.
A person who thinks that prayer changes God’s will is blaspheming.
The demand for physical activity is enormous. We need healthy bodies. But we have focused on our souls and have forgotten the holiness of the body.
We must agree with Maimonides who taught that the stories of creation told in the Torah should not be understood literally; rather, they have a deeper lesson to teach.
It is hard to believe that God created a world that Genesis 1:31 calls “very good,” and yet made it impossible for humankind to survive without distorting its moral sensitivity by murdering animals.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook was born in Latvia in 1865 and died in Jerusalem in 1935. His father was a Mitnagid, opposed to mysticism. His mother was a descendant of Chabad, a Chasidic group. When asked “What will you be?” he answered “I will be both.” In 1920, at the age of fifty-five, he moved to Jerusalem and became its chief rabbi.
Rabbi Kook’s writings are generally, but not always very mystical and difficult to understand. However, Rabbi Ari Ze’ev Schwartz’s book “The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook” unravels the writings with a new translation, with each chapter being divided into clearly stated topic headings added by Rabbi Schwartz, such as the individual, Torah, God, teshuvah, prayer, creativity, Zionism, science, and vegetarianism. Rabbi Schwartz also introduces each section with a clear explanation of what Rabbi Kook is saying.
Rabbi Kook became chief rabbi long before the State of Israel was reestablished in 1948. He lived during a period when the vast majority of pioneers who sacrificed their lives and came to Israel and faced difficulties in their attempts to build up the land of Israel were irreligious Jews, often men and women who were antagonistic to religion. He is properly credited and even commended for working to draw all people close, even those who rebelled against religion. He taught that each person should want to influence friends and be influenced by them for the increase of the greater good. It is through the combining of different talents within each individual that a society is formed. He also taught that everyone should find a personal Torah and realize that there is not just one type of Torah, but an endless variety that can speak to countless individuals in different ways.
The following are some other of Rabbi Kook’s ideas:
The highest type of thinking is never reject any idea in the world. No one has a monopoly on truth. There is truth in other religions.
Secular knowledge is important. We must teach our children what is necessary for them to know how to confront the trials of life.
I walk around with an overwhelming jealousy of the secular world. It is a jealousy that consumes me. For is it really possible that the power of creativity has ceased within the religious world?
Atheists may be on the right tract. They may be denying an immature and distorted image of God. In other words, their denial of God is really a deeper quest for a higher, more sophisticated understanding. Atheism comes to purify the dirt, the embarrassments, that have stuck to a religion that lacks any comprehension. Religious people should understand this, and pay attention to what is bothering them.
One should not only study a religious text to receive a new idea; it should serve as a tool toward understanding oneself.
The role of an author of any book is to begin the discussion of an idea, yet it is the reader’s responsibility to respond by searching for their own personal meaning.
The ideal perfection of a person can only be accomplished by focusing one’s energy on improving one’s own individual self as much as possible. Yet at the same time a person should keep in mind that one’s own individual perfection will never be completed until the Jewish people have successfully reached national perfection.
People should realize that being totally perfect is unattainable and should understand that a person’s true greatness is found in the journey of constantly striving to become a little better.
More than asking God to forgive our misdeeds, we should learn to forgive ourselves and work to assure we do not repeat our mistakes.
Personal growth requires us to first clarify what is the character trait we want to assume, and only after knowing this try to embody it.
A person who thinks that prayer changes God’s will is blaspheming.
The demand for physical activity is enormous. We need healthy bodies. But we have focused on our souls and have forgotten the holiness of the body.
We must agree with Maimonides who taught that the stories of creation told in the Torah should not be understood literally; rather, they have a deeper lesson to teach.
It is hard to believe that God created a world that Genesis 1:31 calls “very good,” and yet made it impossible for humankind to survive without distorting its moral sensitivity by murdering animals.
June 11, 2018
Rabbi Ari Ze’ev Schwartz translated Rav Kook’s teachings. He took the advice Ramban gave to Ibn Tibbon who said that trying to translate from one language must be done with care to get not only words but the meaning and beauty of the original. I know that I personally found great meaning and beauty in this translation.
The book is divided into four parts, which Rav Kook called “The Song”:
• The First Song: The Song of the Individual
• The Second Song: The Song of the Nation
• The Third Song: The Song of Humanity
• The Fourth Song: The Song of Creation
Rav Kook described four different types of people who have unique interests and worldviews. Each soul has its own way of worshiping and learning. He understood that in order to learn it is important to teach in a way that will benefit all who seek, thus “The Song.” He believed that each soul must learn in a way that will not cause one from giving up learning because of disinterest or frustration in the lessons. He said,
“I do not want to restrict myself in such a way. I want to connect to the entire Jewish people, and in no way do I desire to be disconnected from any person.”
The book is easy to read. The author has provided a commentary for each lesson that is clear and readable in a way that is interesting and easily understandable. It is then followed by a lesson, comment, or excerpt from Rav Kook’s personal correspondence in a bold type that is indented separately from the commentary of the translator.
Toward the end of this book, there was an anecdote about reading and re-reading the Torah. In it, Rav Kook was surprised when a student said that he read each lesson in the Torah twice before going on to the next. To paraphrase, Rav Kook replied, “Twice? Only twice? It must be read at least ten times before going on to the next lesson.” That is how I feel about the lessons and the translator’s commentary. It must be read and re-read in all Rav Kook’s beautiful and profound philosophy.
I hope that the reader of this review sees my joy in the gift of this book and of the teachings.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
The book is divided into four parts, which Rav Kook called “The Song”:
• The First Song: The Song of the Individual
• The Second Song: The Song of the Nation
• The Third Song: The Song of Humanity
• The Fourth Song: The Song of Creation
Rav Kook described four different types of people who have unique interests and worldviews. Each soul has its own way of worshiping and learning. He understood that in order to learn it is important to teach in a way that will benefit all who seek, thus “The Song.” He believed that each soul must learn in a way that will not cause one from giving up learning because of disinterest or frustration in the lessons. He said,
“I do not want to restrict myself in such a way. I want to connect to the entire Jewish people, and in no way do I desire to be disconnected from any person.”
The book is easy to read. The author has provided a commentary for each lesson that is clear and readable in a way that is interesting and easily understandable. It is then followed by a lesson, comment, or excerpt from Rav Kook’s personal correspondence in a bold type that is indented separately from the commentary of the translator.
Toward the end of this book, there was an anecdote about reading and re-reading the Torah. In it, Rav Kook was surprised when a student said that he read each lesson in the Torah twice before going on to the next. To paraphrase, Rav Kook replied, “Twice? Only twice? It must be read at least ten times before going on to the next lesson.” That is how I feel about the lessons and the translator’s commentary. It must be read and re-read in all Rav Kook’s beautiful and profound philosophy.
I hope that the reader of this review sees my joy in the gift of this book and of the teachings.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book in exchange for a fair review.
June 12, 2018
Life changing.
March 11, 2019
Me impresiona lo actual de sus ideas (aunque no es un rabino actual), y lo novedosas ( a mis ojos).
Buscar una espiritualidad optimista, encontrar cada uno su propio camino, su propia interpretación de la vida, perseguir la transformación espiritual, respetar las demás religiones, conocernos a nosotros mismos antes de conocer nuestro mundo, usar sus ideas para construir las tuyas...en fin, me gusta mucho. Un personaje sufrido (siempre los que más sufren más nos enseñan). Me hubiese gustado que profundizara más en cada idea, pero entiendo que escribía como un diario y habrá que construirnos nuestra propia verdad a partir de sus formas de expresarse.
Buscar una espiritualidad optimista, encontrar cada uno su propio camino, su propia interpretación de la vida, perseguir la transformación espiritual, respetar las demás religiones, conocernos a nosotros mismos antes de conocer nuestro mundo, usar sus ideas para construir las tuyas...en fin, me gusta mucho. Un personaje sufrido (siempre los que más sufren más nos enseñan). Me hubiese gustado que profundizara más en cada idea, pero entiendo que escribía como un diario y habrá que construirnos nuestra propia verdad a partir de sus formas de expresarse.
April 12, 2020
"...In our sincere desire to follow an exemplary person, we risk losing our own self and our own voice."
A great work about Rav Kook's thoughts, teachings, insights, troubles and actions.
The concepts he taught, surely will make you re-think the way you stand for Torah.
A great work about Rav Kook's thoughts, teachings, insights, troubles and actions.
The concepts he taught, surely will make you re-think the way you stand for Torah.
August 30, 2019
One of the only texts that makes justice to who Rab Kook truly was, a humanist that loved everyone and tried to find a positive spin on everything. In a time where radicalism, on the secular and religious sides are on the rise, it is refreshing to read the conciliatory views of the first Israel’s Chief Rabbi. It is also important to read Rab Kook in an era where his writings have been misunderstood and are being used for pointless political proposes, and then see him for his real self. The book it’s divided into four parts: "The Individual", which contains teachings on God, Torah, prayer, Teshuva, Tikun Olam; “The Nation”, focused on his infamous and often misunderstood teachings on Zionism; “The Humanity”, on interpersonal relationships and Judaism views on other religions, where he calls Jesus a “deeply spiritual person” and “The Creation” where he offers his views on relationships with animals and vegetarianism. Most paragraphs are two or three sentences long, which makes it a very easy read. I’m throughly surprised, bravo!
August 1, 2019
It’s known to most readers that Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok Kook was one of the greatest thinkers of the past 200 years.
His writing style is difficult to understand in many ways. Be it his use of the Hebrew language, writing in a stream of consciousness, mystical topics and more, reading Rav Kook is not easy. That in addition to his writing on topics of a global and cosmic nature makes reading him a challenge for most people, this reviewer included.
Schwartz does a good job of condensing some of Rav Kook’s most important ideas and presenting them in a way that they can be understood.
His writing style is difficult to understand in many ways. Be it his use of the Hebrew language, writing in a stream of consciousness, mystical topics and more, reading Rav Kook is not easy. That in addition to his writing on topics of a global and cosmic nature makes reading him a challenge for most people, this reviewer included.
Schwartz does a good job of condensing some of Rav Kook’s most important ideas and presenting them in a way that they can be understood.
July 9, 2025
Someone recommended this book to me when I said I wanted to learn more about Jewish mysticism. I had never heard of Rav Kook or read anything by him, but his teachings are so inspiring, it's the spiritual side of Judaism that I wish I'd been taught earlier.
August 20, 2018
Really accessible translations and organized thematically. Some really wonderful insights!
July 30, 2020
Excellent in every letter!
October 20, 2020
Of my 100+ Jewish books in English, this one is my favorite. A must read.
July 28, 2021
A beautiful sefer that makes some of the teachings of Rav Kook on a wide range of topics available to the English-speaking world.
January 8, 2022
Great entry level book to understanding the basics of a man who is anything but. Many Jews (and non-Jews) are doing their personal growth a huge disservice by not reading his insights.
November 9, 2020
Phenomenal book whose wisdom will brighten the mind of anyone who wants a holistic understanding of Judaism available in orthodoxy which can so often be seen in extremist ways. Each line of Rav Cook's writings asks the reader to consider their own life and character in profound ways that will bring peace to all those who learn it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews