Studies of Religion 1 Judaism Band 6 Responses

EXPLAIN THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPRESSION OF JUDAISM OF ONE SIGNIFICANT PERSON Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hacohen Kook, also known as Rav Kook, has made contributions to the development and expression of the Jewish religion that were of absolute importance. He was born on September 8, 1865, in Griva, Latvia and died on September 1, 1935 in Jerusalem. In his time, he was the first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi, founder of Religious Zionism and a renowned Torah scholar. Rav Kook was responsible for the term “Religious Zionism”, a divine scheme that established the state of Israel on strict Halakick grounds. He has envisaged Eretz Israel, the land promised to God’s people, as the “foundation upon which rests the throne of God in this world.” He saw it as a model state, existing on ethically pure conduct and policies, to serve as a “light for all nations.” He also developed the philosophies which formed the basis of Modern Orthodox Judaism. This enables Orthodox Jews to live a religious life in the secular world through the integration of traditional observance and values with tose of the secular world. This was done in 1924, when he set up the Mercaz Harev Kook Yeshiva in Jerusalem as a vessel for the implementation and promotion of both Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy; it was also to train future rabbis. His writings were largely unpublished before his death, but they have since been distributed and studied. His contributions were so profound thus making him known as one of the most influential rabbis of the 20th century.

EXPLAIN THE IMPACT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPRESSION OF JUDAISM OF ONE SIGNIFICANT PERSON Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hacohen Kook’s (Rav Kook) impact on Judaism was highly significant with regards to the development of Modern Orthodox Judaism. Rav Kook’s philosophies and teachings have evolved Modern Orthodoxy, this in turn has greatly influenced an entire generation and is continuing to do so through the Mercaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva, a rabbinic school that not only bears his name but also focuses on promoting and implementing Modern Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism. Through Rav Kook’s Halakic tradition-based philosophies, Jews are able to live out their tradition in the secular world and they are able to see the State of Israel as highly significant. Rav Kook saw Religious Zionism as a divine scheme that will resettle Jewish people to their proper homeland, the homeland that will bring salvation to the Jews and to the entire world. However, due to differing views of Jewish leaders and external political pressures, this was not to be. Though the State of Israel was not established until thirteen years after his death, during the 16th year anniversary of its establishment, he was voted as the person with the greatest influence on its establishment. His writings promoted world unity, harmony, faith and love. He wrote prolifically on both Halakic and Jewish thought, both his writings and personality influencing many, even after his death.

ASSESS THE EFFECT OF ONE SIGNIFICANT PERSON OR SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ON JUDAISM OTHER THAN ABRAHAM OR MOSES
Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook, also known as Rav Kook, has made discerning contributions and highly significant impacts on the development and expression of Judaism. He was so important that it was through him that the basis of the establishment of Eretz Israel, Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy were formed.
He was responsible for the term, Religious Zionism, a divine scheme that establishes the State of Israel on strict Halakic grounds. This was due to the resettlement of the Jewish people to their homeland bringing salvation to the Jews and to the world. He has conceptualized Eretz Israel, the land promised to God’s people, as the “Foundation upon which rests the Throne of God in this world.” He saw it as a model state, existing on ethically pure conduct and policies, to serve as a “light for all nations.” However, due to the differing views of Jewish leaders and external political pressure, this did not happen. Even though the State of Israel was not established until thirteen years after his death, on 2008, the sixteenth anniversary of the establishment, Rav Kook was voted as the person with the greatest influence on its establishment due to his teachings and writings.
Rav Kook also developed the philosophies which formed the basis of Modern Orthodox Judaism. His philosophies and writings have evolved Modern Orthodoxy, this in turn has greatly influenced an entire generation and is continuing to do so through the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva, a rabbinic school that not only bears his name but focuses on promoting and implementing Modern Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism. His Halakic tradition-based philosophies have enabled Orthodox Jews to live a religious life in the secular world through the integration of traditional observances and values with those of the secular world and they are able to see the State of Israel as highly significant.
He established the Great Rabbinical Court, a court of 72 rabbis which settles disputes of Jews in the community in Jerusalem. This was established to reflect the structure and role of the Sanhedrin. He provided leadership to the Jewish community, opening the lines of communication and political alliance between various Jewish sectors to present a cooperative approach in re-establishing their homeland. He also promoted the Kiruv, a Jewish outreach, creating a greater role for the Torah and Halakah in the Jewish community.
His writings were largely unpublished before his death, but since then have been distributed and studied. This is because his writings promoted world unity, harmony, faith and love. He wrote prolifically on both Halakic and Jewish thought, therefore making both his writing and personality influential to many even after his death. Rav Kook’s contributions and impacts were so profound, making him known as one of the most influential rabbis of the 20th century.