Zalman Shazar, the third president of the State of Israel, was a childhood friend of one of Rav Kook's prominent disciples — Rabbi David Cohen, known as the Rav Ha-Nazir. After Mr. Shazar and the Rabbi Cohen had both moved to Jerusalem, they renewed their former friendship.

Mr. Shazar described a particularly memorable experience during the month of Elul, before Rosh Hashanah:

When I rediscovered Rav David in Jerusalem, he was steadily ascending the world of mysticism and silence. One day in Elul I went to visit him in Rav Kook's house. It was before the High Holidays, and I wanted to absorb some of his spirit of purity and holiness.

Upon arriving, I was told that Rav David was in Rav Kook's study. Rav Kook was reviewing with him the kavanot — the special kabbalistic intentions when blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

I summoned the courage, and allowed myself to peak into the room. I froze at the sight, totally mesmerized.

The two scholars were both standing, eyes shut. Rav Kook called out the sounds, and Rav David blew the shofar.

The blasts sounded as if they originated from another world. In those moments I felt that I was hearing the blowing of the shofar of our redemption. Here was the messianic shofar, announcing the ingathering of the exiles!

I was shaken to the very depths of my soul. That holy sight and those inspiring sounds will be forever engraved in my memory.

(Adapted from Mo'adei HaRe'iyah 61-62; see also Celebration of the Soul pp. 37-8)