Theodicy is a philosophical problem that disturbs all religious people. In layman’s terms: Why do bad things happen to good people? The Mishnah (Avot 4:15) records in the name of Rabbi Yannai: “We have no explanation, neither for the serenity of the wicked, nor for the suffering of the righteous.” According to a tradition preserved in the […]
‘Master of Wars, Sower of Righteousness’: The Impact of the Great War upon Rav Kook by Bezalel Naor INTRODUCTION World War One (”the Great War”), which left Rav Kook stranded in Europe, first in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and later in London, England, left a profound impact on the Rav’s thought. An important cluster of […]
Review Essay by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer The Souls of the World of Chaos by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook Translation, Introduction and Notes by Bezalel Naor Orot/Kodesh 5783/2023 Today is an appropriate day to write this review. It is 3 Elul, Rav Kook’s 88th Yahrzeit. It is also shortly after the end […]
There’s a story that mathematician and physicist John von Neumann was told that besides him, there were only five people in the world that truly understood quantum mechanics. He replied incredulously, “Really, who are they?” I don’t know how many people truly understand the esoteric works of Rav Avraham Kook, but I know Rabbi Bezalel […]
The Souls of the World of Chaos Book Reception & Panel Discussion Panelists include: Rabbi Bezalel Naor, Author, Souls of the World of Chaos Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, Rav, Lev Le’Daas Rabbi Shmuel Braun, Rav, Lev Le’Daas Moderator: Rabbi Alec Goldstein, Founder of Kodesh Press Congregation Lev Le’Daas June 18th, 2023, Teaneck, NJ
Valley Beit Midrash – Rav Kook’s Universalism
What the Straus Center Is Reading — Souls in the World of Chaos Souls in the World of Chaos features a translation, introduction and notes by Bezalel Naor of one of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook’s lesser-known essays, included in the 1950 edition of Orot. The essay first appeared in 1913 and described the Second Aliyah in spiritual […]
Panel on Rav Kook Souls of the World of Chaos by Rav Bezalel Naor including Rav Yehoshua Gerzi, Rav Ari Ze’ev Schwartz and Rav Dovid’l Weinberg hosted by R Ely Allen.
From the Politics of Tohu to the Politics of Tikkun by Rav Netanel Elyashiv מפוליטיקה של תוהו לפוליטיקה של תיקון רב נתנאל אלישיב ** במהלך השבת הספקתי להתקדם סוף סוף בספרו החדש של הרב בצלאל נאור – ‘הנשמות של עולם התוהו‘. מפעל חייו של הרב נאור הוא עריכת תרגומים מעולים של כתבי הרב קוק לאנגלית, […]
Shnayor Burton. Ha-Arets Asher Ar’eka: Mitsvat Yishuv Erets Yisrael (The Land That I Will Show You: The Commandment of Settling the Land of Israel). 5783/2023. (14), 208 pages. A good portion of Rabbi Burton’s book pivots on the intriguing dialogue between Reish Lakish and Rabbi Yohanan in Tractate Yoma of the Babylonian Talmud. Reish Lakish had great disdain for the Jews […]