Zalman Shazar, the third president of Israel, was a childhood friend of one of Rav Kook's prominent disciples — Rabbi David Cohen, known as the Nazir. When both moved to Jerusalem, the two men renewed their former friendship.

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

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, in order to absorb some of his spirit of purity and holiness.

Upon arriving, I was told that he was in the study. Rav Kook was reviewing with him the kavanot (kabbalistic intentions) of the shofar blasts.

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

The two were standing with their eyes shut. Rav Kook called out the sounds, and Rav David blew the shofar. The blasts sounded as if they came from another world. In those moments I felt that I was hearing the blowing of the shofar of our redemption, the messianic shofar announcing the ingathering of the exiles!

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

(adapted from Mo'adei HaRe'iyah 61-2; see also Celebration of the Soul pp. 37-8)