One of my favorite pastimes while visiting Yerushalaim is visiting the Seforim stores. There are many Seforim available here that I don't see in the stores in the U.S. This especially includes Seforim written by those connected to the Dati Leumi Yehivot Hesder. As the Seforim buying public in the U.S. is overhwlemingly Charedi these other works can be difficult to find. I usually buy a Sefer or two by a Dati Leumi author and am rarely disappointed. My personal favorite bookstore for finding them is Pomerantz on Be'eri right off of King George. After perusing the offerings I decided to purchase Kol HaNevuah written by the Nazir. Please click on the link for more biographical information. He was one of the three primary students of Rav Kook.
Reading the introduction, written by his son Rav Shaar Yoshuv Cohen of Chaifa, I already got my money's worth.
He says that before teaching a class on Kabbalah his father would frequently repeat the story of the four Taanaim who entered the Pardes, i.e. they delved into the study of the deepest secrets. The Talmud teaches that Ben Azai glanced and died. Ben Zoma glanced and went insane. Acher glanced and miconstrued what he saw (and left the path of Torah). Rabbi Akiva entered in peace and left in peace.
The Nazir would comment that this is a very important lesson to remember, when you glance, you get hurt. When you enter deeply into the foundations, you enter in peace and leave in peace.
This message struck me because this is something that I frequently see. People want very much to understand Torah, to understand the meaning of life and what it is that God wants from them. Often, they want fast, simple answers and are either unable or unwilling to invest the time and energy to really master the material. They are (rightfully) dissatisfied with the simplistic, one-dimensional answers they find and come away frustrated, and more disillusioned than they began.
The Nazir is telling us that this is to be expected. Torah is extremely complex multi-layered and multi-faceted. The more we imbibe in those layers and facets the more we comprehend and appreciate all the complexity. Concepts that seemed so difficult suddenly become clear. We see through and beyond simplistic approaches and excitedly experience the full beauty of true knowledge.
I realize that not everyone has the same background and educational opportunities. But the message still remains the same for each one of us. If we want to truly experience the Torah glancing will not suffice. Only entering with our full selves to th best of our ability will leave us satisfied.
Reading the introduction, written by his son Rav Shaar Yoshuv Cohen of Chaifa, I already got my money's worth.
He says that before teaching a class on Kabbalah his father would frequently repeat the story of the four Taanaim who entered the Pardes, i.e. they delved into the study of the deepest secrets. The Talmud teaches that Ben Azai glanced and died. Ben Zoma glanced and went insane. Acher glanced and miconstrued what he saw (and left the path of Torah). Rabbi Akiva entered in peace and left in peace.
The Nazir would comment that this is a very important lesson to remember, when you glance, you get hurt. When you enter deeply into the foundations, you enter in peace and leave in peace.
This message struck me because this is something that I frequently see. People want very much to understand Torah, to understand the meaning of life and what it is that God wants from them. Often, they want fast, simple answers and are either unable or unwilling to invest the time and energy to really master the material. They are (rightfully) dissatisfied with the simplistic, one-dimensional answers they find and come away frustrated, and more disillusioned than they began.
The Nazir is telling us that this is to be expected. Torah is extremely complex multi-layered and multi-faceted. The more we imbibe in those layers and facets the more we comprehend and appreciate all the complexity. Concepts that seemed so difficult suddenly become clear. We see through and beyond simplistic approaches and excitedly experience the full beauty of true knowledge.
I realize that not everyone has the same background and educational opportunities. But the message still remains the same for each one of us. If we want to truly experience the Torah glancing will not suffice. Only entering with our full selves to th best of our ability will leave us satisfied.
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