13 August 2025 · A sentence from the teachings of Rav Kook

„A corrupt person deserves to be hated only for his deficiency, but fo…”

„A corrupt person deserves to be hated only for his deficiency, but for the sake of the image of God within him he deserves to be cherished with love.”From Middot, Ahavah, 9

One must distinguish between a person's traits and the essence of the person. Why? Because the ability to repair can come only when there is something to hold on to. When we detach entirely, looking at the whole person as evil, there is no possibility of repair. There is despair. When we separate between the person, who is the image of God and is good, and his evil deeds, an opening of hope and change is created. So it is within ourselves, in our surroundings, in the world of education, and so it is in all of reality.

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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.