Rav Kook on the Weekly Torah Portion, Jewish Holidays and Psalms (Tehillim) (original) (raw)
Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook
The celebrated first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, Rav Kook (1865-1935) is recognized as one of the most important Jewish thinkers of all time. His writings reflect the mystic's search for underlying unity in all aspects of life and the world, and his unique personality united a rare combination of talents and gifts.
Rav Kook was a prominent rabbinical authority and active public leader, but at the same time a deeply religious mystic. He was both Talmudic scholar and poet, original thinker and saintly tzaddik.
Due to Rav Kook's poetic style and abstract thought, his writings can be difficult to understand, even for those fluent in Hebrew and well-versed in traditional Jewish texts. For the English-speaking audience in particular, his books are hidden treasures whose light has not been fully revealed.
On the whole, I have not attempted to translate his works here. Instead, I have taken ideas from his writings and presented them in a clear, straightforward fashion. While this runs the risk of over-simplifying the author's intent, it is a sincere effort that seeks to be faithful to the spirit of the Rav's thought.
May you be inspired by Rav Kook's extraordinary Torah!
Chanan Morrison 
Timeline of Rav Kook's life.
Beit HaRav Museum (Hebrew)
Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehuda Mirsky
Stories from the Land of Israel by Rabbi Chanan Morrison