Shabbat of Sukkot – Kohelet
„The distinctions between separate entities exist only in our imagination, but in truth we and all of reality are nothing but small chapters and a few links of the one all-encompassing reality in its totality.”From Orot HaKodesh
On Shabbat, many communities will read the book of Kohelet. Kohelet asks about the purpose of life and sees in each thing on its own a lack of meaning. Rav Kook explains that this feeling is correct as long as one looks at each part detached and alone, and then indeed there is no purpose. But the moment one understands that all of life is a single, branching reality, all of whose details are connected to one another and whose roots are in the Holy One, blessed be He, a new depth is revealed: each thing receives value because it is part of a living, infinite whole that leads us toward the complete human being and toward closeness to God. It is precisely out of the connection that the purpose becomes clear, and when everything joins together, one sees the Infinite.
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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.