Rav Kook, the great chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel before the establishment of the state, was harshly criticized for his close association with the Socialist and anti-religious Zionists of the early pre-state years. Rav Kook was a universalist in many different ways. Within the devoutly religious world of Jersualem, he tried to bring Jews together. The Yeshiva which he founded in Jersualem, until this day one of the great Yeshivas in Israel, was known as Mercaz Harav, the great Centre, and in English was called the Universal Yeshiva. Rav Kook wanted to create a yeshiva where Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Chasidim and Litvaks could all learn together. When it came to dealing with the Zionists, Rav Kook felt that the yearning deep inside the Jew to create the State, to build the State and to bring life to the Land of Israel was a murmuring of the Jewish soul, reaching out for Holiness, manifesting itself in the Zionist effort. There are Jews who are steeped in Torah, whose language is the language of the Siddur; for these Jews, the expression of their souls is through Torah learning and hearfelt prayer. There are Jews who are Westerners, university educated and liberal minded; for these Jews, the expression of their souls is through bringing justice to the world, enhancing the plight of the poor and the handicapped. Then there were the Socialist Jews of Rav Kook's time, steeped in socialist, anti religious doctrines; the murmuring of their souls manifest itself in creating the Jewish homeland. Rav Kook felt that this was Holiness albeit in a different garb. In our unique shul we have all sorts of murmurings and expressions. Our mandate is to provide a wide variety of opportunities for the souls to express themselves. Some will want to learn, some to daven, some to visit the elderly, some to contribute their time and effort, some will want to learn aleph bet, some will want a Jewish education and experience for their children. We try to provide for all these expressions, all with the unique colours of our shul. We have our faithful daveners, early in the morning, devoutly saying all the words while listening intently for the sound of the door opening and the tenth man walking in. Then we have our children, who so beautifully lead us in the conclusion of the service, whose souls at other times express themselves with intense games of soccer in the social hall. We have some who feel an intense stirring of their souls for kiddush, willing to even pass up the bulk of the Shabbos davening just to get right to the kiddush. Some of the young infants so wonderfully express their souls right in the middle of the sermon. Kidding aside, we have a wonderful shul of personalities, activities, opportunities and Jewish growth. Holiness in various garbs. We aspire for the greatest Holiness of doing the Mitzvahs, of Torah, of Prayer, of Kindness, while recognizing and supporting the various stirrings of the soul. Rabbi Reuven Tradburks |
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