While the Third of Ellul is, for many, just the third day of a special month of Teshuva - While Gimmel Ellul is, for many sfardim, simply the second day on which to wake up for Slichot - in the past 73 years, Gimmel Ellul has become, in the Religious Zionist movement, a very special day. This is the day of the Yarzheit, or Hilloula, of Rav Avraham Hakohen Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel and the spiritual leader of the Religious Zionist movement. As has become the custom, we, at Tzipiyah.com, want to celebrate this Gimmel Ellul by celebrating Rav Kook’s life and learning from his teachings. I therefore want to share a video which I got the permission to upload on YouTube - a video I feel every single Jew should be watching on Gimmel Ellul. I am also including quotes from various sources on the personality of Rav Kook in order to better grasp how incredible this Tzadik was. Finally, I will conclude with a few quotes from Rav Kook himself so that we may also be inspired by his wisdom.
How better to describe to life of this spectacular figure than with the words inscribed on his grave:
He rose to Israel (made aliyah) on the 28th of Iyar (later to be Yom Yerushalaim).
He rose to Jerusalem on the 3rd of Ellul.
He rose to the heavenly skies on the 3rd of Ellul.
His whole life, as described on his grave, was a constant aliyah - constantly reaching to higher spheres of holiness.
The video
If you are not on Tzipiyah.com, click here to see the movie.
About Rav Kook
There is so much to say about this incredible person, but here are a just few quotes from some biographies. I highly suggest that all should read this book when they have a chance.
There is a well-known story about R. Kook which captures much of what made him so unique. When R. Kook moved to Israel, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of Yaffo; this job included serving as the rabbi of the secular Zionists in the outlying agricultural settlements. One summer, Rav Kook and his colleagues went on a tour of these settlements in an attempt to encourage the pioneers to observe more mitzvot, especially the laws pertaining to agriculture and produce. Their campaign was met with minimum of success. One night, toward the end of the trip, Rabbi Y. M. Charlop, who was sharing a room with R. Kook, awoke to the sight of his teacher restlessly pacing about their small room. As he looked closer, he noticed that R. Kook’s face was flushed with passion and excitement. Rav Kook noticed him and slowly approached his disciple, placing his ice cold hands on R. Charlop. “What is wrong, master?” R. Charlop asked. R. Kook ” responded, “I am consumed with a burning love of God.”
(…)
R. Kook did not write in normal expository prose. His writing flowed from inspiration; he attempted to capture his powerful experiences in words. His hand was driven to write by the overwhelming emotions bursting forth from him. Once he started writing, he didn’t stop. Sometimes he didn’t even notice that he had reached the end of the page and kept writing straight onto the table. He even preferred pencil over pen, because fountain pens constantly had to be re-dipped in ink, interrupting his passionate writing. Yet, despite the spontaneity of his expression, we never find thoughts crossed out or erased in his manuscripts. Not only did his thoughts flow, they flowed correctly the first time. (from Here)
