CONTENTS
Preface
13
S
EFER
B
EREISHIT
– T
HE
B
OOK OF
G
ENESIS
19
Bereishit: Tasty Fruit Trees
21
Bereishit: The Age of the Universe
23
Bereishit: The Torah of Eretz Yisrael
26
Noah: The Walk of the Righteous
28
Noah: Permission to Eat Meat
31
Noah: The Rainbow in the Clouds
34
Leich Lecha: “Be Complete!"
37
Leich Lecha: Sanctity in Space
39
Leich Lecha: Mamrei’s Advice
42
Vayeira: The Salt of Sodom
44
Vayeira: Combating Evil
46
Vayeira: The Binding of Isaac
49
Chayei Sarah: Princess of Her People and the Entire World
51
Chayei Sarah: Burial in the Double Cave
53
Chayei Sarah: Isaac’s Afternoon Prayer
56
Toldot: Harnessing the Power of Esau
58
Toldot: Jacob’s Hand on Esau’s Heel
60
Vayeitzei: The Prayers of the Avot
65
Vayeitzei: The Blessing of a Scholar’s Presence
68
Vayishlach: Reliance on Miracles
70
Vayishlach: Jacob Arrived Whole
73
Vayishlach: Reuben’s Sin
75
Vayeishev: The Conflict between Joseph and Judah
78
Vayeishev: The Nature of Exile
81
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GOLD FROM THE LAND OF ISRAEL
8
Mikeitz: Interpreting Dreams
83
Mikeitz: Joseph and the Evil Eye
86
Vayigash: The First Exile
88
Vayigash: The Shepherd-Philosopher
91
Vayechi: Fishy Blessings
93
Vayechi: Jacob Did Not Die
95
S
EFER
S
HEMOT
– T
HE
B
OOK OF
E
XODUS
99
Shemot: Moses Hid His Face
101
Shemot: Moses’ Mistake
103
Shemot: Going to Peace
106
Va’eira: Order in Miracles
108
Va’eira: Hamotzi – For all Times
110
Bo: Destroy Chametz, Gain Freedom
113
Bo: Draining Egypt
116
Bo: The Exodus and Tefillin
118
Beshalach: “This is My God"
121
Beshalach: Innate and Acquired Holiness
124
Beshalach: The Influence of Amalek
127
Yitro: Serving the Community
130
Yitro: The Lesson of Mount Sinai
133
Yitro: Seeing Sound
135
Mishpatim: Trust in God vs. Self-Reliance
136
Mishpatim: Slavery in the Torah
139
Mishpatim: Revealing Our Inner Essence
142
Terumah: Betzalel’s Wisdom
144
Terumah: Tachash Skins in the Tabernacle
147
Terumah: Rising Above Ten Handbreadths
149
Tetzaveh: The High Priest’s Clothes and the Convert
152
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FROM THE WRITINGS OF RABBI ABRAHAM ISAAC HAKOHEN KOOK
9
Tetzaveh: Beyond the Holy
155
Ki Tissa: Wisdom for the Wise
158
Ki Tissa: A Lesson in Leadership
160
Ki Tissa: When Bad Things Happen to Good People
162
Vayakheil: Technology and the Sabbath
164
Vayakheil: Choosing a Leader
166
Vayakheil: Stars in the Tabernacle
168
S
EFER
V
AYIKRA
– T
HE
B
OOK OF
L
EVITICUS
171
Vayikra: Animal Sacrifices in the Third Temple.
173
Vayikra: Sacrifices vs. Fasting
177
Vayikra: Black Fire on White Fire
179
Tzav: The Olah Offering and Prophecy
182
Tzav: The Prohibition of Cheilev
185
Shemini: The Priestly Benediction
187
Shemini: Immersion in Water
190
Tazria/Metzora: A Return to Ritual Purity
192
Tazria/Metzora: Purifying Time and Soul
195
Acharei Mot: The Ox and the Goat
198
Acharei Mot: The Goat for Azazel
200
Kedoshim: Sha’atnez – A Glimpse into the Future
202
Kedoshim: First Impressions
205
Emor: Kohanim and the Illusion of Death
207
Emor: Eating before Yom Kippur
210
Behar: Jubilee – National Reconciliation
213
Behar: Shemitah – Window to the Future
216
Bechukotai: Why Exile.
218
Bechukotai: Prophetic Letters
221
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GOLD FROM THE LAND OF ISRAEL
10
S
EFER
B
AMIDBAR
– T
HE
B
OOK OF
N
UMBERS
225
Bamidbar: Flags of Love in the Desert
227
Bamidbar: Jacob’s Signs
230
Naso: Tithes and the Sotah
233
Naso: Divine Favoritism.
236
Beha’alotecha: The Seven Lamps of the Menorah
239
Beha’alotecha: A Tale of Two Prayers
241
Shelach: The Sin of Tzelofchad
243
Shelach: Garments of the Soul
246
Shelach: The Third Passage of Shema
249
Korach: Inclusion and Selection
252
Korach: The Secret of the Incense
256
Korach: Holiness in the Midst of the Community
258
Chukat: Total Dedication to Torah
261
Chukat: The Death of a Tzaddik
263
Chukat: The Book of God’s Wars
266
Balak: Tents and Dwelling Places
269
Balak: Eliminating Idolatry
271
Pinchas: Genuine Zealotry
275
Pinchas: Atonement for the New Moon
278
Matot: Keeping Vows
280
Matot: Two Paths to Purity
282
S
EFER
D
EVARIM
– T
HE
B
OOK OF
D
EUTERONOMY
285
Devarim: The Book that Moses Wrote
287
Devarim: Elucidating the Torah
291
Devarim: Right verses Might
294
Va’etchanan: Cleaving to God
297
Va’etchanan: In Mind and Heart
299
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FROM THE WRITINGS OF RABBI ABRAHAM ISAAC HAKOHEN KOOK
11
Va’etchanan: Loving God with All Your Might
301
Eikev: Two Loves for Eretz Yisrael
303
Eikev: Blessings over Bread and Torah
307
Eikev: Balancing Torah and Work
310
Re’eih: “The Word of Shemitah"
314
Re’eih: Private and Public Redemption
316
Shoftim: Food for Thought
318
Shoftim: The Murderer’s Admission
322
Ki Teitzei: The Rebellious Son – Preventive Medicine
324
Ki Teitzei: Rationale for Mitzvot
327
Ki Teitzei: Free Will versus Causality
329
Ki Tavo: Be Happy!
332
Ki Tavo: First Fruits, Led by an Ox and a Flute
334
Ki Tavo: Tithing in the Proper Order
336
Nitzavim: Two Levels of Teshuvah
339
Nitzavim: Bridging the Generation Gap
342
Vayeilech: The Song of Torah
344
Ha’azinu: How Do We Serve God.
346
Vezot HaBerachah: The Full Cup of Blessing
351
Vezot HaBerachah: Why Keep Mitzvot.
354
Bibliography
357
Timeline for Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook
361
Glossary of Hebrew Terms
363
Index
364