Machshava:

Galut,  Israel,  Rav Kook,  Religious Zionism 

Collections: R' Shvat Ain Aya- Rav Kook's commentary on the Aggadeta of Masechet Shabbat

Description

The centrality of the Land and State of Israel in Judaism is well known, and surely in the writings of Rav Kook. That just sharpens the question of why God sent us to exile? Even though galut is presented in the Tanach just as a deterrent, or a threat of punishment that isn't meant to be carried out, nevertheless, there must be some positive aspect of galut itself! It's especially interesting to see how Rav Kook relates to Satmar anti-Zionist ideology. Only after understanding the goal of galut, can we then understand when exile has "played out" its role and it's time to come home to Israel, to revive Eretz Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael, to return to the original Judaism.