Torah Goes Forth From Zion: Essays on the Thought of Rav Kook and Rav Shagar

The Jewish people’s return to the Land of Israel was an attempt to reconcile the Torah and the modern world, and no one has done more to illustrate this than Rav Avraham Yitzchak ha-Kohen Kook and Rav Shagar. Rav Kook (1865–1935), the rabbinic forbearer of Religious Zionism, dedicated his life to showing that a confrontation with modernity can elevate the Torah rather than diminish it. His mystically inspired teachings are distinguished by profound insights and a unique ability to see light where others see only darkness. Even a century after his death, they remain of great importance.In the years since his passing, new challenges have emerged, and Rav Shagar (1949-2007), a noted rosh yeshivah and religious thinker, rose to meet them. Inspired by the spirit of Rav Kook, his writings creatively draw upon Hasidic texts, modern philosophy, and postmodern thought to create a new language that could address the most challenging problems of contemporary religious life.Rav Kook and Rav Shagar are united in their enduring belief in the power of the Torah to speak to every moment. Torah Goes Forth From Zion shows how their thought can shed light on some of the most important aspects of being a Jew today. Read more