Shabbat Parashat Yitro 5785

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Ties to Religiously Controversial Events/Organizations

Recipient and Background: Mr. Lupow, director of the Agrarian School of Mikveh Israel on behalf of Kol Yisrael Chaverim (Alliance Israelite Universelle), an organization to promote Jewish culture, founded in Paris and active throughout the world, especially in establishing modern Jewish schools.

Body: From the depth of my heart, I hereby express through you my blessing to the distinguished society, Kol Yisrael Chaverim, in honor of the first jubilee anniversary of its founding. I see floating before my eyes the lofty ideals, of an ethical, religious and national nature, which were conceived and carried out by choice people within our nation, those who founded this respected organization, may they always have a part among the living. It is my prayer that Hashem will give His spirit, a spirit of strength, to His nation and lot, in all of the fields of the distinguished society, which are all living with us today like in the days of old. May they succeed in all of their projects to raise the stature of Israel, thereby bringing joy to all of the those with a straight heart, who look forward to the true salvation of our nation.

2. #294 – Date and Place:  Iyar 5670 (1910), Yafo

Recipient and Background: The organizing committee of the Herzl Jubilee commemoration.

Body: I received an invitation by means of Mr. Frier to take part among the participants in the commemoration in honor of the fiftieth birthday of the one who raised the banner of the reawakening of our nation, Dr. Herzl, of blessed memory. I am prepared to fulfill your request with all of the feelings of brotherhood, with the joint aspiration for the nation’s reawakening in its historical land. I am looking forward to know in all detail the schedule of all the pleasant details [of the program].

3. #295 – Date and Place:  Iyar 5670 (1910), Yafo

Recipient and Background: Mr. Schlessinger, the director of the Tachkemoni School.

Body: In response to your respected question about taking part in the commemoration of Herzl’s birthday, I am honored to tell you the following. It is not possible for us to increase the separation of the hearts [between different factions within the Jewish community]. It is critical that our school take part in this event. Of course, they need to inform us of all of the details in advance, and you would do well to find them for us, so that we can know if there is anything in what is planned that is against the rules of the Torah.

4. #296 – Date and Place:  Iyar 5670 (1910), Yafo

Recipient and Background: Dr. Arthur Rupin, a Zionist leader.

Body: I am turning to you to speak from the chambers of my heart, and I hope that your good spirit will understand my thoughts and that you will be able to quickly calm the stormy spirit in my midst by fixing the improper situation that caused my agitation.

I heard a rumor that shocked me. In the Herzl Forest, the workers are publicly desecrating Shabbat, and the Jewish guard rides his horse all day and night on Shabbat. Distinguished sir, this story will justifiably shock the heart of every Jew whose feeling of national honor has not been extinguished. This forest, which is the property of the entire Jewish nation, and has been sanctified to the memory of the man whose spirit raised the banner of the nation – it is impossible to stand desecration of that which is holy to G-d (Shabbat) in front of all of Israel in public lands. Please, sir, be quick to fix and remove this terrible disgrace from G-d’s estate.

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