Rav Kook on the Weekly Torah Portion

Rav Kook on the Weekly Parasha

Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Jaffa (1904-1914)

The redemption from Egypt and the complete redemption in the future are one continuous act of God's strong hand and outstretched arm.
They began to operate in Egypt, and continue to act in all subsequent events.
Orot p. 44

Shemot (Exodus) Shemot

Moses Hid His Face
Going To Peace
"I Will Be Who I Will Be"
True Humility
Moses' Mistake
The Leadership of Moses
The Inner Trait of Goodness

VaEra

"Who Brings Forth Bread from the Earth"
"Hamotzi" – For all Times
Radiant Jewels on an Unclothed Body
Order in Miracles
God's Name

Memories of the Soul
Training for Greatness
Draining Egypt
The Leap of Passover
Two New Years – Nisan and Tishrei
The Special Laws of the Korban Pesach
The Exodus and Tefillin
Freedom and Destruction of Chametz
"Because of This"
Donkey-Holiness

BeShalach

Innate and Acquired Holiness
Listening to the Old ...
The Proper Time to Light
Sanctity in Space
Two Levels of Love
"This is My God"
The Test of Marah
The Assault of Amalek
The Influence of Amalek

Yitro

Blessings on Miracles
Breaking Bread with Scholars
Serving the Community
The Ultimate Value of the Torah
Reward and Punishment
Coercion at Sinai
Seeing Sound
The Lesson of Mount Sinai
A Pure Revelation

Mishpatim

Following the Majority Opinion
Slavery in the Torah?
Tablets of Stone
Permission for the Doctor to Heal
Trust in God vs. Self-Reliance
Accepting Two Torahs
Legislating Kindness
Revealing Our Inner Essence
Eye for an Eye

Teruma

Betzalel's Wisdom
The Wall of Iron
Tachash Skins in the Tabernacle
The Tachash and the Erev Rav
"Take for Me an Offering"
Rising Above Ten Handbreadths

Tetzaveh

Clothes for Dignity and Beauty
The High Priest's Clothes and the Convert
Raising a Constant Flame
Beyond the Holy

Ki Tisa

The Recipe for Ketoret (Incense)
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
A Lesson in Leadership
The Knot of God's Tefillin
A Chair with Three Legs
The Copper Washstand
Wisdom for the Wise
Wealthy and Wise
Moses' Extraordinary Prayer
The First and Second Luchot

VaYakhel

Art and Creation
Choosing a Leader
Two Layers of Wisdom
Technology and the Sabbath
Stars in the Tabernacle

Pikudei

Always on His Mind