„Whatever a person lacks of the wisdoms of the world, correspondingly…”
„Whatever a person lacks of the wisdoms of the world, correspondingly he will lack tenfold from the Torah... Therefore, with the strengthening of the might of the Torah, the broadening of worldly wisdom, as far as possible, is necessary.”From Ikvei HaTzon, Derishat Hashem
Seemingly Rav Kook was a great innovator in all that concerns his attitude granting a place of honor to the wisdoms of the world, but only seemingly. The great ones of Israel already spoke of this, among them the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Baruch of Shklov, the Maharal, the author of "Divrei Chamudot," and many others.
The Rav says that in order to grow in Torah a person must have general knowledge, and when a person lacks this knowledge, his Torah too will be lacking.
Of course the center of a Jew's life is Torah, but we must know that wisdom in the world is also a gift of the Creator, and we must use it and develop in the way of Torah with the tools it gives us.
A good evening!
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.