Shabbat Parashat Chayei Sarah 5785

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Involving Baron Rothschild in Religious Efforts – #278

Recipient and Background: Rabbi Professor Yisrael Levi of France. Rabbi Levi, who spent most of his life in Paris, and later became the Chief Rabbi of France, was apparently close at that time with an important Jewish Parisian – Baron Edmond Rothschild.  

Body: I feel an obligation to express my thanks and blessing to your honor, who showed me favor by fulfilling my request about the dear Rabbi Zev Bernstein, who lives in the moshava Petach Tikva. I would be so pleased if it will be possible to continue helping him in the days to come, as he is a very honorable man.

Similarly, I would be grateful to your honor if you would say a good word about the book Shabbat Ha’aretz (Rav Kook’s work on the Laws of Shemitta). I will be very happy if it finds favor in the eyes of a Torah scholar such as you. May you be blessed if you carry out my request to give the copy I sent to the honorable “Generous Baron” (Rothschild).

As I speak, it would be an honor if I can say further matters. Perhaps Hashem will be with us, and we can do positive things on behalf of religious concerns for the New Yishuv (which the Baron significantly helped finance). Of course, my whole interest is to connect religion to the emergence of a strong settlement movement. We see with our own eyes that it is impossible for a settlement to thrive and be sustained without there being respect for and vitality of religious life. It would be very appropriate if the revered Baron, who has done so much for the Yishuv, will pay attention to the invigorating of the Yishuv’s soul, i.e., its spirit of religion. To promote this, we must adopt the idea of a Yishuv-wide rabbinate (editor’s note - it is unclear if Rav Kook, who was considered the rabbi of the moshavot in the vicinity of Yafo, already fit that role) and make it possible to hold regular trips to the broad Yishuv, in Judea and the Galilee, in order to fortify the stature of religion.

Additionally, we need to strengthen the local rabbinates, in every agricultural settlement. In Ekron, a rabbi was already installed according to my approval and choice, and thank G-d he is distinguished, and his actions have left a good mark on the moral and religious character of the moshava. However, he is very downtrodden, and his livelihood is minimal. It would be wonderful if it would be possible to support him with a set salary.

It is also very necessary for the Yishuv-wide rabbinate to have a literary platform, i.e., a special newspaper that will come out at least on a monthly basis. This can bolster the status of religion and clarify the many questions that affect the whole Yishuv, on the practical and theoretical level and on that which emerges from it.

It is especially necessary to have a central yeshiva for the New Yishuv, a yeshiva in the proper spirit of Israel, capable of producing wonderful rabbis for the Yishuv. They should be educated in culture and understanding the world and practical life, in addition to their Torah and philosophy. They should also be gifted speakers who capture the interest of many with the veracity of their ideas.

All of these matters need to be fulfilled in practice. The Yishuv will be thankful if your honor will bring these ideas close to the ear of the respected Generous Baron. This would cause all of the acts of charity that he has undertaken on behalf of the Holy Land to shine in a lofty beam of light.

I have begun the yeshiva on a small scale with Hashem’s help. However, when we have sufficient wherewithal, we are prepared to embellish and expand activities in a very desirable manner. This will enable the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael to influence Jewish communities in the Diaspora.

I hope that your honor will kindly agree to answer all of my questions and try as you can to support the good things that I intend to establish for the benefit of our nation and our Holy Land.

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