Rav Kook Torah

Rav Kook on Vayikra (Leviticus)

Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook in Switzerland (1914)
There is no such thing as ahavat chinam, groundless love. Why groundless? He is a Jew, and I am obligated to respect him.
There is only sinat chinam – hate without reason.
But ahavat chinam? Never!
Vayikra — וַיִּקְרָא
Black Fire on White Fire
Animal Sacrifices in the Third Temple?
Sacrifices vs. Fasting
The Inner Light of Destruction
The Goal of Sacrifices
Maimonides and Korbanot
Rebuilding the Temple
Tzav — צַו
Appreciating Boundaries
The Olah Offering and Prophesy
The Purifying Fire of the Burnt Offering
The Prohibition of Cheilev
The Community's Prayer of Thanks
Shemini — שְׁמִינִי
Purification by Immersion in Water
The Error of Nadav and Avihu
Mourning for Nadav and Avihu
The Priestly Benediction
Rabbi Yehudah and the Calf
Tazria/Metzora — תַזְרִיעַ-מְצֹרָע
Purifying Time and Soul
A Return to Ritual Purity
Man versus Mosquito
Shiloh and the Birth-Offerings
The Power of Speech
Rabbi Abba Arrives in Babylonia
Acharei Mot — אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
The Ox and the Goat
The Goat for Azazel
The Triple Measure of Incense
Kedoshim — קְדֹשִׁים
Holiness in Physical Pleasure
Sha'atnez: A Glimpse into the Future
Peah and Lessons in Tzedakah
Love Your Neighbor
First Impressions
Admonish Your Neighbor
A Letter for the Neturei Karta
The Printer's Dilemma
Emor — אֱמֹר
Kohanim and the Illusion of Death
Agents of Holiness
Eating Before Yom Kippur
The Omer Controversy
Behar — בְּהַר
Jubilee – National Reconciliation
Freeing Slaves
Shemitah – Window into the Future
The Hetter Mechira for the Sabbatical Year
The Intrinsic Sanctity of Eretz Yisrael
Bechukotai — בחֻקֹתַי
Prophetic Letters
Judicial Corruption
Why Exile?
Eternal Inheritance