The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook

The purpose of Creation and the purpose of divine service is for the Jew to immerse in all the physical things, and then to elevate them all in the name of God, for then he joins the lower with the upper. The path of separating from the things of this world is an easier path. But the higher level is to raise all the things of this world to God, May

teaches that each of us is obligated to believe that the world was created for our sake because there is some distinct way that each of us is called upon to serve. The world being created for me isn’t a statement of how much I’m entitled to, but rather a declaration of how much is asked and expected of me.

Jews have endeavored to realize the transformation that Shabbos effects on the soul, to cultivate and ripen their appreciation of the gift each week, and to pass on their practices and their realizations to coming generations with openness to ever deeper insight to appear in the future.

The significance of Lurianic kabbalah is that it is a redemption of small steps, act by act, day by day. Each act mends a fracture of the world. The way from here to there, like the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness, takes time. There are setbacks on the way – sins, rebellions, false turns. A journey of a few days takes 40 years. But

If a reflective life is meant to be more than just affirming our existing beliefs, then Torah provides the opportunity to engage with life more fully.