Gold from the Land of Israel A New Light on the Weekly Torah Portion from the Writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook

by Morrison, Rabbi Chanan

• ISBN13: 9789657108925
• ISBN10: 9657108926
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-04-01
• Publisher: Urim Publications

Summary

Rav Kook's writings, due to their poetic and mystical nature, are difficult even for those fluent in Hebrew and rabbinical texts. Gold from the Land of Israel uses a clear, succinct style to grant the reader a window into his original and creative insights. This book elucidates his thoughts on many fascinating topics, including: Can we reconcile the Torah's account of creation with modern science? What is the Torah's view on vegetarianism? What is the purpose of death? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we have dreams? Will the Third Temple have animal sacrifices? Who is God? How can one attain joy in serving God? How should we balance our time between Torah study and work?

Author Biography

Rabbi Chanan Morrison studied for several years at Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav, the Jerusalem yeshiva founded by Rabbi Kook. He taught Jewish studies for several years in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before returning to Israel.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 13
Sefer Bereishit- The Book of Genesis	p. 19
Bereishit: Tasty Fruit Trees	p. 21
Bereishit: The Age of the Universe	p. 23
Bereishit: The Torah of Eretz Yisrael	p. 26
Noah: The Walk of the Righteous	p. 28
Noah: Permission to Eat Meat	p. 31
Noah: The Rainbow in the Clouds	p. 34
Leich Lecha: "Be Complete!"	p. 37
Leich Lecha: Sanctity in Space	p. 39
Leich Lecha: Mamrei's Advice	p. 42
Vayeira: The Salt of Sodom	p. 44
Vayeira: Combating Evil	p. 46
Vayeira: The Binding of Isaac	p. 49
Chayei Sarah: Princess of Her People and the Entire World	p. 51
Chayei Sarah: Burial in the Double Cave	p. 53
Chayei Sarah: Isaac's Afternoon Prayer	p. 56
Toldot: Harnessing the Power of Esau	p. 58
Toldot: Jacob's Hand on Esau's Heel	p. 60
Vayeitzei: The Prayers of the Avot	p. 65
Vayeitzei: The Blessing of a Scholar's Presence	p. 68
Vayishlach: Reliance on Miracles	p. 70
Vayishlach: Jacob Arrived Whole	p. 73
Vayishlach: Reuben's Sin	p. 75
Vayeishev: The Conflict between Joseph and Judah	p. 78
Vayeishev: The Nature of Exile	p. 81
Mikeitz: Interpreting Dreams	p. 83
Mikeitz: Joseph and the Evil Eye	p. 86
Vayigash: The First Exile	p. 88
Vayigash: The Shepherd-Philosopher	p. 91
Vayechi: Fishy Blessings	p. 93
Vayechi: Jacob Did Not Die	p. 95
Sefer Shemot- The Book of Exodus	p. 99
Shemot: Moses Hid His Face	p. 101
Shemot: Moses' Mistake	p. 103
Shemot: Going to Peace	p. 106
Va'eira: Order in Miracles	p. 108
Va'eira: Hamotzi - For all Times	p. 110
Bo: Destroy Chametz, Gain Freedom	p. 113
Bo: Draining Egypt	p. 116
Bo: The Exodus and Tefillin	p. 118
Beshalach: "This is My God"	p. 121
Beshalach: Innate and Acquired Holiness	p. 124
Beshalach: The Influence of Amalek	p. 127
Yitro: Serving the Community	p. 130
Yitro: The Lesson of Mount Sinai	p. 133
Yitro: Seeing Sound	p. 135
Mishpatim: Trust in God vs. Self-Reliance	p. 136
Mishpatim: Slavery in the Torah	p. 139
Mishpatim: Revealing Our Inner Essence	p. 142
Terumah: Betzalel's Wisdom	p. 144
Terumah: Tachash Skins in the Tabernacle	p. 147
Terumah: Rising Above Ten Handbreadths	p. 149
Tetzaveh: The High Priest's Clothes and the Convert	p. 152
Tetzaveh: Beyond the Holy	p. 155
Ki Tissa: Wisdom for the Wise	p. 158
Ki Tissa: A Lesson in Leadership	p. 160
Ki Tissa: When Bad Things Happen to Good People	p. 162
Vayakheil: Technology and the Sabbath	p. 164
Vayakheil: Choosing a Leader	p. 166
Vayakheil: Stars in the Tabernacle	p. 168
Sefer Vayikra - The Book of Leviticus	p. 171
Vayikra: Animal Sacrifices in the Third Temple?	p. 173
Vayikra: Sacrifices vs. Fasting	p. 177
Vayikra: Black Fire on White Fire	p. 179
Tzav: The Olah Offering and Prophecy	p. 182
Tzav: The Prohibition of Cheilev	p. 185
Shemini: The Priestly Benediction	p. 187
Shemini: Immersion in Water	p. 190
Tazria/Metzora: A Return to Ritual Purity	p. 192
Tazria/Metzora: Purifying Time and Soul	p. 195
Acharei Mot: The Ox and the Goat	p. 198
Acharei Mot: The Goat for Azazel	p. 200
Kedoshim: Sha'atnez- A Glimpse into the Future	p. 202
Kedoshim: First Impressions	p. 205
Emor: Kohanim and the Illusion of Death	p. 207
Emor: Eating before Yom Kippur	p. 210
Behar: Jubilee - National Reconciliation	p. 213
Behar: Shemitah - Window to the Future	p. 216
Bechukotai: Why Exile?	p. 218
Bechukotai: Prophetic Letters	p. 221
Sefer Bamidbar- The Book of Numbers	p. 225
Bamidbar: Flags of Love in the Desert	p. 227
Bamidhar: Jacob's Signs	p. 230
Naso: Tithes and the Sotah	p. 233
Naso: Divine Favoritism?	p. 236
Beha'alotecha: The Seven Lamps of the Menorah	p. 239
Beha'alotecha: A Tale of Two Prayers	p. 241
Shelach: The Sin of Tzelofchad	p. 243
Shelach: Garments of the Soul	p. 246
Shelach: The Third Passage of Shema	p. 249
Korach: Inclusion and Selection	p. 252
Korach: The Secret of the Incense	p. 256
Korach: Holiness in the Midst of the Community	p. 258
Chukat: Total Dedication to Torah	p. 261
Chukat: The Death of a Tzaddik	p. 263
Chukat: The Book of God's Wars	p. 266
Balak: Tents and Dwelling Places	p. 269
Balak: Eliminating Idolatry	p. 271
Pinchas: Genuine Zealotry	p. 275
Pinchas: Atonement for the New Moon	p. 278
Matot: Keeping Vows	p. 280
Matot: Two Paths to Purity	p. 282
Sefer Devarim- The Book of Deuteronomy	p. 285
Devarim: The Book that Moses Wrote	p. 287
Devarim: Elucidating the Torah	p. 291
Devarim: Right verses Might	p. 294
Va'etchanan: Cleaving to God	p. 297
Va'etchanan: In Mind and Heart	p. 299
Va'etchanan: Loving God with All Your Might	p. 301
Eikev: Two Loves for Eretz Yisrael	p. 303
Eikev: Blessings over Bread and Torah	p. 307
Eikev: Balancing Torah and Work	p. 310
Re'eih: "The Word of Shemitah"	p. 314
Re'eih: Private and Public Redemption	p. 316
Shoftim: Food for Thought	p. 318
Shoftim: The Murderer's Admission	p. 322
Ki Teitzei: The Rebellious Son - Preventive Medicine	p. 324
Ki Teitzei: Rationale for Mitzvot	p. 327
Ki Teitzei: Free Will versus Causality	p. 329
Ki Tavo: Be Happy!	p. 332
Ki Tavo: First Fruits, Led by an Ox and a Flute	p. 334
Ki Tavo: Tithing in the Proper Order	p. 336
Nitzavim: Two Levels of Teshuvah	p. 339
Nitzavim: Bridging the Generation Gap	p. 342
Vayeilech: The Song of Torah	p. 344
Ha'azinu: How Do We Serve God?	p. 346
Vezot HaBerachah: The Full Cup of Blessing	p. 351
Vezot HaBerachah: Why Keep Mitzvot?	p. 354
Bibliography	p. 357
Timeline for Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook	p. 361
Glossary of Hebrew Terms	p. 363
Index	p. 364
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.