Personal and national teshuva in the thought of Rabbi Kook

Rabbi David Samson, in an article marking the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook, explores the concept of 'teshuva' (repentance) through the philosopher's lens. Unlike common interpretations that view repentance solely as remorse for sin, Rabbi Kook, in his work 'Orot HaT’shuva' (Lights of T’shuva), describes it as a cosmic force for returning to one's source and achieving the perfection of existence. According to Samson, this concept encompasses an individual's return to their inner self and, ultimately, to the Divine.

Addressing the 'age of anxiety' and the prevalence of depression in the modern world, Samson argues that Rabbi Kook identifies the root of these ailments in a departure from truth and moral pollution. In this view, teshuva serves as a tool to transform depression into joy and illumination. The process is described as consisting of three stages: physical and mental health, a healthy orientation toward religious belief, and an idealistic aspiration to align with the Divine plan for the universe.

One of the more debated aspects of Rabbi Kook's thought was his emphasis on physical health and exercise for Jewish youth in the Land of Israel. He believed that strengthening the body was part of the process of national teshuva, enabling the nation to settle and defend its homeland. Samson notes that Rabbi Kook faced criticism from certain ultra-Orthodox groups at the time for these views.

Ultimately, the report emphasizes that for Rabbi Kook, national teshuva and a return to the Torah are intertwined. He posited that national revival and the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel are prerequisites for spiritual awakening. Samson adds that Rabbi Kook viewed Israel as the first nation that, by returning to its homeland, would pave the way for teshuva to spread to all of humanity.