Friday, August 13, 2010

Rav Kook says: Teshuvah. It's guaranteed.

I've been learning Rav Kook's Orot haTeshuvah this Elul. In honor of Rav Kook's 75th Yahrtzeit, observed today [and see my Canadian Jewish News article in his honor], I want to quote three lines.

From his introduction:
התשובה היא תופסת את החלק היותר גדול בתורה ובחיים, עליה בנויות כל התקוות האישיות והציבוריות
Teshuvah [repentance] occupies the greatest portion of Torah and Life, and upon it are founded all of the hopes of the individual and the community.

From Perek 5:
העולם מוכרח הוא לבא לידי תשובה שלימה
The universe is compelled to come to complete teshuvah.

And, most powerfully, from Perek 6:
אין דבר בטוח בעולם כמו התשובה
Nothing in this universe is as certain as teshuvah.

I cry when I read this sentences. Okay, I cry easily, but still - I haven't been this moved by a Torah text since the first time I read Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch.

Rav Kook spends a lot of time on the mystical character of teshuvah - how it ties into the fundamental nature of the universe, why it is necessary, how it influences one's actions in the past as well as the future - but he doesn't use mystical jargon. I find it inspiring, very readable, and very worthwhile.

I'm embarrassed it's taken me this long to learn it כסדר.

5 comments:

  1. R'YBS has something similar on the Rambam proving you have to have faith in klal yisrael
    KT
    Joel Rich

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  2. We've been learning Orot Hateshuvah in the beit midrash here. Are you learning with a shiur, or by yourself?

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  3. Joel-
    Where?

    R' Mordechai-
    By myself right now, although I fully expect it to make it into shiurim...

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  4. Just so you know, you inspired me to start teaching Orot HaTeshuva in my shul between mincha/maariv on Friday night and during seudah shlishit. I have always skimmed parts of it but never fully delved into it. If one takes the time to really sit with it, there are tremendous insights.

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