Shabbat Parashat Vayigash 5783

Igrot Hare’aya – Letters of Rav Kook: Encouraging Religious Agriculture – #139

Date and Place: 21 Iyar 5668 (1908), Yafo

Recipient: The Kehillot Yaakov institution, whose agenda was to encourage religious Jerusalem youth to get involved in agriculture.

Body: A lightning bolt of a light of joy burst out in my heart when I saw your pamphlet, which in your goodness you sent to me. Even for your desire alone, your holy goal in and of itself, you are deserving of thanks and blessings from everyone who loves to see the goodness of Hashem in the land of life.

I want to hope that all of the greatest rabbinic leaders, from near and far, will lend you a helping hand. The time has come, dear brothers, that all of those who are truly diligent in matters of love of the Name of Hashem and who look forward for the light of His holy word in the Holy Land, will come out forcefully in favor of conquering the world of activity in the Holy Land. This should not come through quarreling or negative interactions, but based on positive actions, as the point is to build and to establish sources of income and sustenance through work and construction. [Providing such opportunities] for the majority of those connected to Torah is the only way to enable the most exceptional within the community who are for it, to be great rabbis who dwell permanently in the tent of Torah with deep Torah knowledge, great abilities, and understanding of the mystical sides of the Torah. [This becomes possible by injecting financial resources into the community/families].

The entire community of deeply religious people, whose hearts Hashem has touched, will have their honor raised. Their way of life, which is based on the foundation of the Torah and true belief in Hashem, when connected to building the world and expanding the actual Jewish community in the Holy Land, will be a source of inspiration for the multitude of our brethren in the New Yishuv, now and for generations.

[We embrace the activity and, with it, the success with the help of Hashem for those who follow His path, at the same time that they are deeply involved in normal human activity and hard work with one’s hands, which make life pleasant and bring health to both the body and soul.] The more robust the activity the more it will widen the group of people who are attached to it and bind together those who scrupulously follow Hashem in the ways of a life of Torah, and mitzvot, together with the reawakening of the nation in a practical way in the Land of our Desire. This is indeed the foundation of the blossoming of the horn of salvation for the House of Israel.

Therefore, beloved brothers, be strong and valorous in hoisting the holy and lofty flag of the desire to build the Holy Land in practical ways, on the foundation of the love of Torah and mitzvot and the expansion of these values in the practical life in Eretz Yisrael, which is ever expanding before our eyes. Never leave this holy flag, as this idea is eternal and flows out of a source connected to He who gives life to all elements of the world. May Hashem grant you strength and vigor, so that you reach your sacred goals. While the pursuit of these goals may be painfully difficult in the beginning, it is full of promise for a very fruitful future.  

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