Silver from the Land of Israel: A New Light on the Sabbath and Holidays from the Writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook by Rabbi Chanan Morrison

Silver from the Land of Israel

"Such an uplifting collection of essays... a wonderful gift." – Douglas Wertheimer, Chicago Jewish Star

Rav Kook's poetic and mystical writings challenge even fluent Hebrew and rabbinic readers. Silver from the Land of Israel offers a clear, concise window into his original insights.

This companion to Gold from the Land of Israel focuses on Rav Kook's thoughts about Shabbat and Jewish holidays, exploring questions such as:

• How is the Sabbath like a bride?
• What is the inner meaning of the shofar blasts?
• Why do we drink on Purim?
• What were Rav Kook's views on secular Zionism?
• What is the role of art and literature?
• Why do we need both oral and written Torah?
• Why must the Jewish calendar be set in Israel?
• Why does a Jewish king need his own sefer Torah?
• Why is Chanukah not celebrated with a festive meal?
• Why is the Temple so important?

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935), the first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, is a key Jewish thinker. His writings reflect a mystic’s search for unity in life and the world. Rav Kook combined rabbinical authority, public leadership, deep mysticism, Talmudic scholarship, poetry, original thought, and spiritual leadership.