„There are matters that it would have been fitting not to expound upon…”
„There are matters that it would have been fitting not to expound upon, because they are among the hidden mysteries of the world. And when the small-minded see these matters in books and do not descend to their depths, they become corrupted in their character traits and their faith. However, since in our generation many writers have cast off the yoke of morality and have multiplied arrogant speech about matters that stand at the summit of the world, we are obligated to explain, according to the truth of the Torah, those essential causes that lead the light-minded to breach the world's fences, and to show the place of their error. This is so, even though necessity compels us to explain matters that it would have been fitting to conceal and leave only to the wise who understand of their own knowledge.”From LeNevuchei HaDor, Chapter IV
Not everything should be spoken about. There are matters that are fitting to remain hidden. There are matters that it is not right to expound upon.
But when the whole world is engaged in some matter, the people of the spirit must not say, "We are above this." The obligation rests upon all of us to be part of the general discourse. To explain and clarify matters that at times it would have been preferable to keep hidden.
The line is very thin. And Rav Kook felt that a generation of redemption must be a generation of revelation. And if in his generation this was so, in our generation all the more so.
The book "LeNevuchei HaDor," from which the quotation is taken, is on a special offer for members of the page: 50 shekels only instead of 98, for the next two weeks.
To order:
For the recovery of Rut bat Sarah.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.