Rav Kook is alive and kooking in English
For English speaking Jews, Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (called in Israel HaRav) has been an elusive magnet. It is impossible to understand Israeli Judaism without somehow opening the “WHITE LIBRARY” (Kook’s works are published mostly in white) and attempting to cope with Hebrew that the most literate Hebrew scholars struggle with. Rav Kook was a prolific writer – almost a graphomaniac – who composed both as one of the first rabbis to recognize and utilize the power of the written press, and as a deeply inward spiritual diarist. He expressed views that exerted enormous influence over Religious Zionism, especially those with a messianic tone. The English speaking world has long required an introduction that provides the forceful poetic spiritual expression that is so much a part of why his extraordinary writings still have impact nearly a century after his death.
Rachel Ebner has now provided such a gate of entry to Rav Kook’s world. Her newly published The Torah of Tomorrow: One Song, (Mosaic Press, 2025) makes Rav Kook’s own writings come alive in poetic and comprehensible English. The work is both brilliant and beautiful. It expresses a personal journey of a Jewish woman uniquely suited to the task. Rachel imbibed a love for Bible and Hebrew from her scholar father and was even recruited to help translate some of the more challenging texts of the Koren Bible. She first encountered Rav Kook’s works decades ago and was swept away, like many young adults, despite the difficulty of specifying exactly why. But instead of just joining the admiring cult of admirers, she undertook a complete study of his most personal spiritual writings.
The brilliant aspect of her work is her editing. She has chosen the most meaningful sections scattered among his voluminous productions and arranged them by topics that actually take the reader on a spiritual journey akin to her own. I can attest, as one who had the opportunity to read these works together with her over several months, that there is indeed a transformative experience awaiting the reader. Rav Kook’s voice becomes personal, encouraging, prodding, never relenting, as he at times whispers and at times shouts out, “Go higher, Be who you can be!” The choices and editing are so seamless that the reader need not trouble herself to be amazed at the scholarship involved.
The beautiful aspect of her work is the translating. Rachel turned her literary talents to lyricism, and has applied this skill in a painstaking weighing of every word, syllable and sound to create an English poetic masterpiece that stands upon its own merits. Like every great translation, the reader feels, “I didn’t know Rav Kook could speak English.”
And like every great work, this is a work of love. Rachel felt an irresistible urge to share with other Jews what Rav Kook’s writings did to her life. True sharing involves receiving by the very act of giving, and the reader can feel a fellowship in the spiritual adventure that the book facilitates. Rachel has provided the Hebrew text alongside the translation, a unique invitation for the more advanced reader to connect with the original. And hopefully a nod to Israelis that this work is no less meaningful for them.
In short, Rachel Ebner’s One Song provides a much needed gateway to Rav Kook’s universe in English. It is an ideal work for personal study, for study groups, or for guidance with the author (on zoom). Gap year students may find it especially appealing. Mosaic Press is to be congratulated for crafting a physical volume worthy of the beauty and brilliance of the contents.
